This morning, after a prolonged illness, at the age of 64, Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva – conductor of the Sofia Boys Choir at the “Tsar Boris III – 1928” Cultural Center – passed away.
The funeral service will take place on January 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM in the St. Nedelya Cathedral in Sofia.
Prof. Adriana Blagoeva was a professor of choral conducting, a doctor of musicology and musical arts, and the vice-rector of the National Music Academy "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov." For her exceptional contribution to the development of Bulgarian musical culture, Prof. Blagoeva received numerous national awards, including the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius – First Degree, the “Crystal Necklace” from the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists, the “Golden Age” Star from the Ministry of Culture, and others.
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva (1989–2025), the Sofia Boys Choir significantly expanded its repertoire, developed an active concert and recording program both in Bulgaria and abroad, and won one Grand Prize, six First Prizes, and five Second Prizes at eight international choral competitions. Adriana Blagoeva was the recipient of the Special Conducting Mastery Award at the First International Choral Competition in Bolzano, Italy, in 2000. Many renowned Bulgarian composers wrote songs specifically for the choir and Adriana Blagoeva. The Sofia Boys Choir under her direction released 12 individual CDs, one DVD, and contributed to nine other CDs in collaboration with various ensembles.
In 1997, Prof. Dr. Blagoeva founded the Youth Ensemble of the Sofia Boys Choir, enabling the choir to perform in three formations – boys, youth, and mixed ensembles.
The Sofia Boys Choir, under the direction of Adriana Blagoeva, has received numerous national and international awards, including the "Silver Lyre," "Golden Lyre," "Crystal Lyre," "Musician of the Year," "Golden Feather," the Honorary Badge of Sofia Municipality, "St. John Koukouzel," as well as honorary plaques from the Ministry of Culture, the Bulgarian Choral Union, the Union of Bulgarian Composers, the Union of Bulgarian Cultural Centers, and others.
Under the leadership of Prof. A. Blagoeva, the Sofia Boys Choir performed extensively in Greece, Russia, Poland, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Belgium, Iceland, Turkey, Romania, and Japan.
In 2022, Prof. Blagoeva established the first-of-its-kind in Europe The International choral festival, "The Boys are Singing" with the aim of promoting boys’ choral singing. Over three editions of the festival so far, only boys’ choirs have participated, from Mexico, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Bulgaria.
Prof. Dr. A. Blagoeva was the author of numerous articles and participated in theoretical conferences on choral singing and music education in Bulgaria, Russia, Greece, and Spain. She conducted open rehearsals with the Sofia Boys Choir in Greece, Germany, and Japan and led masterclasses on choir work and choral conducting in Mexico.
Prof. Blagoeva will leave a lasting legacy in the history of Bulgarian choral art.
May her memory be honored!
