“I would like to express my gratitude to Kalin Soutev, a businessman from Varna. To a great extent the credit for the abundance of endowments should go to him,” says headmistress Maria Gradeshlieva.

”We signed a contract with Mr. Soutev’s company and he introduced us to some Austrian businessmen who are devoted fans of Bulgarian folklore", Maria Gradeshlieva further explains. "During the year we gave 52 concerts and out of the blue they said they wanted to help us financially. I told them the school’s dorms which accommodate 130 children were in urgent need of renovation. The members of the Austrian Pension Fund Association as well as the Bulgarian organizer donated money. So, on September 17 we cut the ribbon on the renovated buildings and the new furniture inside. With the support of Mr. Dale Ryan’s company, in 2013 we represented Bulgaria at an international folklore festival in Scotland. An incredible lady – Valentina Ivanova Voynova-Kroumova donated a really high-quality piano. I would also like to mention a fine gesture by Prof. Manol Todorov – an eminent folklore expert, theoretician and researcher – who donated his entire library to our young talents and their teachers. The endowment includes expert literature in several languages, as well as 102 gramophone records of folk music from different countries of Europe and Asia. He made the endowment knowing full well that his 60-year long labours will be in good hands.”

Every year the Philip Koutev National School of Folk Arts holds two national contests.

“We launched the Golden Staff dance contest years ago; later one of our lecturers Tasho Baroulov gave the idea to hold a vocal-instrumental contest which we called “Rainbow of Songs over Philip Koutev”, open to school-goers aged 6 to 10, amateurs as well as professionals", Maria Gradeshlieva goes on to say. "In time, both contests started attracting more and more new talents. I am happy to say that the latest edition of Rainbow of Songs had some 400 participants; Golden Staff had over 500. So, we proved we are good at organizing contest events. It is at these events that we select some of our future students. A competent panel of judges awards the most talented of the children and they receive annual scholarships. I am pleased to say that with the help of the Ministry of Culture both contests were given a national status.”

There are 220 children currently studying at the National School of Folk Arts. The management is planning several events in 2014. Maria Gradeshlieva again:

“One of the most significant events we will take part in is the Folklore Festival in Antalya where the school’s dance formation will present Bulgarian folk traditions. We will also continue recording our production and at the end of April the first tourists from Austria will arrive. We shall give 52 concerts for their enjoyment.”

English version: Milena Daynova 

All performances in the audio are by the students of the Philip Koutev National School of Folk Arts

Photos: nufi-kotel.com