site.btaNational Festival of Christmas and New Year Songs in Haskovo to Feature 11 Ensembles in December

A total of 11 musical ensembles, including 10 choirs and the Sofia Youth Philharmonic, will take part in the National Festival of Christmas and New Year Songs in Haskovo, festival director and conductor of the hosts from the Orpheus Children’s Choir Elena Tsvetkova said on Saturday. This tenth anniversary edition of the event will run from December 11 to 14.

The festival, held under the motto “All Stars,” is funded by the Ministry of Culture and is part of Haskovo Municipality’s cultural calendar and the initiatives marking the 25th anniversary of the Municipal Youth Centre Enterprise, the municipal press service said. Some of the ensembles will give two performances on stage.

The programme also features a competition for a new song on a December holiday theme, with awards presented to choir conductors and to the audience’s favourites.

As is traditional, the festival will open with a brass band leading a procession of all performers from the town centre to the Youth Centre. The closing event, Songs by the Christmas Tree, will feature performances by all choirs on Svoboda Square.

Last year, the festival was held from December 13 to 15 and featured 11 vocal ensembles.