site.btaPernik International Competition Awards Young Classical Musicians

Donika Miteva, a violin student from Plovdiv, won the Grand Prix at the 19th International Young Classical Musical Instrument Performers Competition in Pernik, the organizers of the event said on Monday. Donika, who attends the Dobrin Petkov National School of Music and Dance, earned the honour for her performances in Spanish Symphony (Part 5) by Edouard Lalo and Five Pieces from Cinderella: No. 5, Mazurka by Sergei Prokofiev. The prize, consisting of a statuette and a BGN 1,000 cash award, is an acknowledgement for the winner’s “extraordinary talent.”

A total of 180 young musicians from Bulgaria and North Macedonia participated in the competition. They were divided into three groups according to the type of their instrument: piano, strings, and brass and percussion.

The Education Section of the Spanish Embassy in Bulgaria awarded Bozhidara Karakicheva (piano), the Sofia Guitar Ensemble, and Anton Velichkov (oboe) for presenting works by Spanish and Ibero-American composers. Instituto Cervantes awarded Alisa Gritsan (piano) and Magdalena Goranova (guitar).

The Teachers’ High Achievement Awards went to Olga Mladenova (piano), Milko Todorov guitar) and Iva Lyubomirova (flute).

A children’s drawing competition, involving 145 entrants, was held on the sidelines of the main event. It was won by eight-year-old Nikol Rasheva, who attends the Pernik Art Gallery Studio.

The International Young Classical Musical Instrument Performers Competition is organized by Pernik Municipality, the local Palace of Culture and its School of Arts. Over the years, the competition has established itself as one of the most prestigious musical events in Bulgaria.