site.btaConducting Competition Opens in Sofia, Special Award to Be Presented

The International Conducting Competition opens in Sofia on Monday and will continue until March 1 at Bulgaria Hall, the Sofia Philharmonic said.

According to them, the competition combines artistic rivalry with real concert practice. Following a preliminary international selection from hundreds of applicants, twelve finalists have been chosen to take part in a series of competition rounds, conducting the Sofia Philharmonic and the National Philharmonic Choir.

The programme spans repertoire from classical works to 20th-century music, as well as a Bulgarian composition.

The format includes six competition days with rehearsals and auditions open to the public, as well as a final gala concert on March 1, when the laureates will be announced.

In addition to the three prizes, supported by financial awards, a public prize and an orchestra prize will also be presented. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of conductor Sasha Popov (1899–1976), a special award bearing his name will also be presented.

The international jury brings together conductors, orchestra and festival directors, and managers from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The chair is the doyen of Bulgarian conductors, Georgi Dimitrov.

They added that with international partnership with IMK Vienna (an international music management company focusing mainly on orchestral concerts, including festivals, tours and events), the competition aims to establish itself as an annual platform for discovering new talent and to enhance Sofia’s international visibility as a European cultural centre.