Teaching staff from previous years
Kaval
Temelko Ivanov was born in the city of Burgas in 1976, and has been playing kaval since he was 12 years old. Temelko attended the Kotel Music High School from 1990 to 1995, after which he was accepted at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. The following year he joined Ensemble Trakia. Temelko completed his degree at the Academy in Conducting Folk Orchestras, and Music Pedagogy. His mentors and teachers were Georgi Penev and Lyuben Dossev. Today, Temelko continues to work at Ensemble Trakia and is mainly focusing on recording music and teaching younger students.
Gaida
Dimcho Dimitrov Enchev (Rhodope gaida) was born in Plovdiv in 1973. He started playing gaida when he was 12 years old. He graduated from the Music High School in Shiroka Lûka, and in 2002, he received his Bachelor's Degree in music pedagogy from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. Since 2005, Dimcho has worked as a gaida player in Ensemble Trakia in Plovdiv. Dimcho has studied with well-known Rhodope gaida players Dafo Trendafilov and Vasil Bebelekov.
Encho Pashov (Thracian gaida) was born in the village of Sinapovo, Strandzha region, in 1951. In 1976, he graduated from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, and from 1976 to 1980, Encho taught gaida at the Academy as a part-time faculty member. At the same time, he was the featured gaida soloist for Ensemble Trakia. Throughout the years, Encho has made multiple recordings with the National Radio in Plovdiv and Sofia. Between 1989 and 2002, he taught young Bulgarians in Moldova to play gaida and kaval. Currently, Encho teaches gaida at the Lyuben Karavelov high school in Plovdiv. He is also an instrument maker, making gaidas and kavals at a small studio in the Old Town, near the Academy in Plovdiv.
Gûdulka
Todor Kirov was born in 1950 in Veliko Tûrnovo, North Bulgaria. In 1976, Todor graduated from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv and was offered a position as a gûdulka teacher, which he still holds. He has taught almost all of the current generation of professional gûdulka players and is a highly distinguished figure in Bulgarian gûdulka playing and teaching. Todor Kirov has thoroughly studied the unique characteristics of his instrument and has published a number of books about how to play gûdulka, including “Evolution of the gûdulka and gûdulka playing in Bulgaria,” “The art of the gûdulka in Dobrudja,” and “Tunes for gûdulka.”
Tambura
Vladimir Vladimirov was born in Stara Zagora, Thrace, in 1975. He graduated as a tambura major from the Filip Kutev Music High School in Kotel. In 2000, he completed his Bachelor’s degree at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. Vladimir began teaching tambura part-time in 2002; he has been working as a teaching assistant at the Academy since 2004.
Tûpan
Mitko Hristov Popov was born in Varna in 1962. He graduated from the Dobri Hristov Music High School in Varna. Since 1985, he has been playing tûpan with Ensemble Trakia in Plovdiv. Mitko has performed in over 20 countries with Ensemble Trakia, as well as with Iglika, Matevski, The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, and the Trakia Choir. His most distinguished appearances include shows at the Olympia Theater in Paris and Le Grand Mix show in Nantes, France.
Violin
Ivan Paskalev began studying music in 1977 and graduated from the Shiroka Lûka Music High school. Since 1985, he has researched and performed Bulgarian and pan-Balkan folk music on his violin. Ivan has played violin with many of Bulgaria’s popular folk bands, including Rhodopi, Plam, and Ivo Papasov’s Trakia, and is a highly respected and sought out musician throughout Bulgaria. In 1997, Ivan took as position as a resident musician at the very successful music company, Payner Music, and has recorded with several other music studios as well. In 2000, Ivan founded and has since been the director of his own band Plovdiv. In 2003, he began teaching Bulgarian music for violin and was a great hit at the 2005 Seminar; we are very pleased to have return again this year.
Accordion
Krasen Gospodinov was born in 1965 in Zhitnitsa, Dobrich area, Dobrudzha. Krasen started playing accordion at the Children's Music School when he was 5 years old. He won first place at both the 5th and 6th National Festivals in 1979 and 1983 respectively and also won the Special Award for Young Performers from Radio Shumen in 1982-83. He graduated from the Plovdiv Music Academy in 1998 as a music pedagogy major. Krasen has bean featured on numerous shows for National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, Radio Shumen, Plovdiv Community Television and many others. Krasen has toured the world from India to France and played at famous venues where he has been the featured performer. Krasen currently plays accordion and composes music for Ensemble Trakia in Plovdiv. He's intending to compete as the fastest accordion player for the Guinness Book of World Records.
Clarinet
Nikola Iliev from Konush, in Thrace, is one of the most famous Bulgarian clarinetists. Trained at the Music Academy in Plovdiv, he studied under the well-known Petko Radev, and later received a Master's Dergee in Sofia from the Sofia Conservatory of Music. Founder of Konushenska Grupa, one of the most popular, wedding bands in Bulgaria, he has been playing for weddings and recording studios for over 35 years and has toured extensively throughout Europe and appeared countless times on Bulgarian Television. A master of traditional and modern Bulgarian instrumental folk music, he is one of the founding pioneers of the contemporary wedding band style.
Instrument Program Coordinator: Lyuben Dossev
Lyuben Dossev was born in Pleven, North Bulgaria, in 1953. Following in the footsteps of his father Tsvetan Dossev, the kaval player for Severnyashki Ensemble, Lyuben started to play the kaval as a small child. As early as the 7th grade, he was recruited by youth folk camps to teach kaval to younger children. After Lyuben graduated from the Pleven Music High School, he moved to Plovdiv to attend the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts. During this time, he was one of the founders of the vocational music high school in the town of Shiroka Lûka in the Rhodope mountains, the first of its kind in Bulgaria. Lyuben received his Bachelor’s degree from the Academy and has been teaching there ever since; he later went on to earn his Doctorate degree, also from the Academy. Lyuben has taught nearly all of the current generation of Bulgaria’s most well-known kaval players and has been a mentor for many young musicians, as well as colleagues at the Academy. In 2004, Lyuben was elected Dean of the Department of Music Folklore, Choreography and Arts, at the Academy. For the past 10 years, he has taught numerous times at folk camps in the U.S. and is proud to be the Program Director for the Bulgarian Folk Music & Dance Seminar again this year.
Singing Classes
Thrace
Tanya Dosseva was born in 1954 in Sinapovo, Strandzha region, in Eastern Thrace. Tanya’s first singing experiences date back to her early childhood performances at village fairs, celebrations and competitions where she often moved the audience to tears with her sad slow songs and beautiful voice. Tanya graduated from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv in 1977 and was immediately hired as a teacher at the Shiroka Lûka Music High School; she was simultaneously appointed a soloist for the Academy’s Folk Choir, a position that she held for 11 years. Throughout her singing career, Tanya has performed at many prestigious venues in Bulgaria and Europe; she now sings with one of the most popular wedding bands in the country, Konushenska Grupa. In the summers of 2000 and 2001, Tanya taught at the East European Folklife Center’s Balkan Music & Dance Workshops in Maryland, USA. She is pleased to welcome her friends from other countries into the bright halls of her alma mater.
West Thrace
Petrana “Pepa” Koutcheva, originally from the Pazardzhik region in West Thrace, now lives in New York City. She will be teaching songs from her native area, as well as translating for other Bulgarian singing classes. Pepa grew up in a family of singers in Thrace. Since coming to the U.S., she has toured and performed extensively, including concert appearances at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and the United Nations. She is also the founder and director of the singing group Pesnopojka in New York. Pepa has taught Balkan music at the EEFC’s Balkan Music and Dance Workshops on both U.S. coasts and throughout the States. She has four recordings to her name, and has won many honors in her native Bulgaria for performances and activities in teaching traditional music. In 1999, the Slavic Heritage Council of America awarded her a special Certificate of Recognition in gratitude for her outstanding contributions to the Slavic community of Greater New York.
Thrace (Dalboki village)
Traditional women's songs from the Dalboki Village, Stara Zagora region. Photo and decscription of singer forthcoming.
Dobrudzha
Yovka Yordanova Maneva was born in 1946 in the village of Smolnitsa, Dobrich area, where she studied through the 8th grade. She attended a specialized agricultural high school in Dobrich and later worked as a bakery manager and a child-care assistant at the day care center in Smolnitsa. Yovka grew up with the songs of her mother, then as a student, performed songs from her favorite singers, Sonia Kûncheva, Atanas Panaiotov and Velichka Staneva. She has sung at the Dobrich regional celebration Pesni i Tantsi ot Slûncheva Dobrudzha, on the outskirts of Debrene, and at the Teketo folk celebration. As an amateur singer and dancer, Yovka is actively involved in the cultural events in the village of Smolnitsa.
Vocal Music Program Coordinator: Lyuben Dossev, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Dance Classes
Northwest Bulgaria
Dances from Gradets
July 27 — Opening Party
July 28 — 9:00 am to July 29 — noon (includes review session)
Boyana Pavlova Stankova was born in 1949 in the village of Deleina, in the Vidin region. She attended middle school in Deleina, and graduated from high school in the town of Bregovo. She did further study for 3 years at the School for Cultural Specialists in Blagoevgrad. Since 1975, she has worked at the Prosveta Cultural Center in the village of Gradets as a librarian, secretary and leader of amateur dance groups. Under Boyana's leadership, the dance groups have won many prizes and awards at local, county and national competitions. Their greatest achievements have been at the Koprivshtitsa, Rozhen, and Ribaritsa folk festivals.
Tsanko Angelov Tachev was born in 1936 in the village of Gradets and finished middle school there. He is a master blacksmith who is still working at this old, traditional craft. In the 1950's, Tsanko started the first dance group at the village's cultural center. Today, more than 50 years later, he's still leading the horos in the village ensemble, dancing with them and participating in all performances and festivals.
Krûstemir Angelov Krûstev (tûpan) was born in 1959 in the village of Gradets, where he completed middle school. He studied gûdulka at the Folk Music High School in Kotel, graduating in 1978. He has worked as a drummer for over 20 years with Ensemble Dunav in Vidin, and has also spent many years drumming for amateur dance groups at the cultural center in Gradets.
Bitov Group from Gradets
Krasimir Kirilov Krûstev (kaval) was born in 1964 in Vidin, where he finished middle school. He then studied kaval in the folk music program at the high school in Pleven. He has played kaval for more than 20 years with Ensemble Dunav in Vidin, and for 10 years at the Prosveta Cultural Center in the village of Gradets.
Bozhidar Kamenov Simeonov (gaida) was born in 1981 in Vidin. He finished middle school in Varna at a school for handicapped children. He graduated from the Folk Music High School in Kotel and then studied gaida at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. He now works with Ensemble Dunav in Vidin as a gaida player. In the past 2 years, Bozhidar has also played for amateur dance performances for the cultural center of the village of Gradets He lives in the village of Topolovets (Goren Boshniak).
Alexandra Yozhkova Yotova (gûdulka) was born in 1990 in Vidin, where she currently attends high school. Her entire family comes from the village of Gradets. Alexandra has played the gûdulka and sung since she was 4 years old and has participated in countless performances, concerts, competitions and festivals. Representing the Prosveta Cultural Center of Gradets, she has won gold medals and first prizes at the Koprivshtitsa Rozhen and Ribaritsa festivals. Alexandra performs the vocal and dance music of the village of Gradets, as well as that of the greater Vidin region.
Thrace
Dances from Dalboki
July 29 - 3:45 pm - July 30 - 12:15 pm (includes review session)
Biographical information about the dance teacher and accompanying instrumentalists from the village of Dalboki is forthcoming.
Pirin
Dances from Ablanitsa
July 30 - 3:45 pm to July 31 - 12:15 pm (includes review session)
Said Ibraimov Chakûrov was born in 1941 in the village of Ablanitsa, in the Hadzhidimovo region near Gotse Delchev. He completed 7th grade in Ablanitsa, then attended high school in Gotse Delchev. Following his army service, he enrolled in an accounting course and graduated from the Economics High School in Sofia. Said worked as an accountant and supervisor for the local agricultural coop in the village of Dûbnitsa. In 1975 he became a financial executive in Ablanitsa and in 1993 began working at the revenue service office in Hadzhidimovo. He is currently retired and helps his family raise tobacco. Since his youth, Said has been involved in the cultural activities of his village; he has been the chairman of the cultural center in Ablanitsa for many years. Over 30 years ago he recruited a large group of young people to form one of the best performing groups in the Gotse Delchev region. He is still the cherished leader of this group, the aim of which is to collect, preserve and promote the local authentic dances and folklore from Ablanitsa.
This region has a strong tradition of zurna and tûpan playing for festive events, and accompanying Said will be Selim Pirkov (zurna), Bairyam Yasharov (zurna) and Ahmed Dimitrov (tûpan) all from the city of Gotse Delchev.
Shopluk
Dances from Golemo Buchino
July 31 - 3:45 pm to August 1 - 12:15 pm (includes review session)
Biographical information about the dance teacher and accompanying instrumentalists from the village of Golemo Buchino is forthcoming.
Dobrudzha
Dances from Smolnitsa
July 31 - 5:30 pm to August 1 - 19:00 pm (includes review session)
Manyo Hristov Kulev was born in the village of Smolnitsa, Dobrich region, in 1948, where he studied through the 8th grade. He graduated from a specialized baking high school in Dobrich. From 1969 until his recent retirement, he worked as a heavy equipment operator in Smolnitsa. Manyo currently leads a traditional dance group at the Stefan Karadzha Cultural House (chitalishte) in Smolnitsa. He appeared at the Koprivshtitsa national folklore festivals in 1986, 2000, and 2005; the Koledno Nadigravane festival in Varna in 1997 and 1998, and the Dobrudzha Pee i Tantsuva international festival in Albena in 1999. He has participated in annual celebrations in the Dobrudzha area, including Pesni i Tantsi ot Slûncheva Dobrudzha, a folk gathering that takes place on the outskirts of Debrene. Manyo has also appeared on Bulgarian National Television.
Ivan Rachev Manev (gaida) was born in 1941 in the village of Smolnitsa, in the Dobrich region, where he studied through the 8th grade. He worked as a heavy equipment operator in Smolnitsa until his retirement. Ivan is an amateur musician who regularly takes part in the cultural activities of the village. He played at the Koprivshtitsa national folklore festivals in 1981, 1986, 2000, 2005; the Koledno Nadigravane in Varna in 1997 and 1998, and the international festival Dobrudzha Pee i Tantsuva in Albena in 1999. He has participated in annual celebrations in the Dobrudzha area, including Pesni i Tantsi ot Slûncheva Dobrudzha, a folk gathering on the outskirts of Debrene. Ivan has also appeared on Bulgarian National Television.
Survey of Bulgarian Dance
Dances from various Bulgarian regions including review of favorite dances from 2005 & 2006 Bulgarian Folk Music & Dance Seminars
August 2 — 9:00 to 4:30 pm (includes review session)
Iliana Bozhanova was born into a family of musicians and singers in Galabovo, South Thrace. She graduated from the National School for Art Instructors and later completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Bulgarian Folk Dance and Choreography at Plovdiv’s Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts. At the age of 16, Iliana joined the folk dance ensemble Rûchenitsa in Plovdiv. Through this group, she had the opportunity to perform Bulgarian folk dances in other parts Bulgaria, as well as in Greece, Serbia, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, France, Italy, Holland, and Russia. In 1981, she became choreographer and artistic director of two children’s folk dance ensembles — Radost in the village of Yoakim Gruevo, and the ensemble of the Rosa Dimitrova Orphanage. Since October of 2004, Iliana has been the director and choreographer of Ensemble Voivodintsi, which has 100 dancers and singers who range in age from 5 to 76 years old. Throughout the years, Iliana has also worked with many ensembles in the Netherlands, Norway, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Switzerland and the U.S. In the United States, she is also well known as a dance teacher at dozens of folk dance clubs and camps, including Mendocino, Ramblewood, Old World Music & Dance, Pinewoods, Mainewoods, Stockton, and others. She has lectured at many colleges and universities around the world. In addition to working as a dance teacher and choreographer, up to 2005, Iliana also worked as an architectural draftsperson. For more information, visit Iliana Bozhanova's web site.
Todor Vasilev Yankov (accordion) was born in 1962 in Plovdiv, but he grew up in the village of Dobralak in the Rhodope Mountains in a large family. His father, Vasil Yankov, was a well-known gaidar in the area. Todor began to play gaida, like his father, and then when he was 10 year old, he took up kaval. Soon after that he became an orphan and had no one to send him to study at Shiroka Lûka Music High School, which had been his dream. When he was 16, he discovered the accordion and began to teach himself to play. For many years he played with the Hisar folk orchestra at different holiday celebrations. He has been the accordionist for the following folk dance ensembles: Rûchenitsa, Hebar, Pûldin and now Voivodintsi. In 1980 he graduated from the Construction Trades High School in Plovdiv, where he studied electrical installation. He currently works as a machine operator in the Plastics division of Liebher Corporation.
Dance Program Coordinator: Iliana Bozhanova, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Dance Program Teacher Assistant and Bulgarian/English Translator: Cathie Springer, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Bulgarian Language Classes
Catherine Struse Springer was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, USA, and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. To support her various artistic endeavors, Cathie has worked as administrative staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, Wall Street investment banking firms, and various folk arts organizations. She is currently a free-lance gardener, and Editor of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America’s journal Sound Post. A 1981 graduate of the Bulgarian Folk Dance Program at the School for Teachers of Amateur Activities in Plovdiv, Cathie has been Director of the Bosilek Bulgarian Folk Dance Ensemble in New York for over 25 years. Cathie likes to use her language skills (Bulgarian, Norwegian and French, among others) as a way of bringing people together.
Cathie Springer and Iliana Bozhanova of the Folk Seminar staff.
NOTE: 2008 Schedule — subject to change