Folklore festivals, competitions, anniversaries… Not forgetting the new voices discovered during the outgoing year. Events throughout 2014 painted a colourful folklore bonanza, as if the difficult times or the bad news never got through to organizers and performers and audiences were able to enjoy some memorable events. Hundreds of regional festivals, prestigious international forums, new competitions and prizes studded the folklore calendar – some of them we have already brought to you, illustrated with authentic music, others we shall present now.

The Pirin ensemble recently marked its 60^th anniversary at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia with a dazzling show with the participation of performers of all generations. Renowned soloist Tatyana Surbinska flew in from USA expressly for the event. The audience also applauded Tanya Kostova and Rousska Stoimenova; all three of them are among the Pirin ensemble founders. In these 60 years the Pirin ensemble has had over 7,000 concerts on all continents with its audience running to millions. Prof. Kiril Stefanov who was principal artistic director of the ensemble for almost 50 years is also author of some of the most popular folk song arrangements.

The second edition of the Northern Nightingales international folklore competition brought together participants from Macedonia, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. The main objective the organizers from Souhindol municipality have set themselves is to revive and preserve folklore from the Northern regions. Young folk singer Ana Borissova says that once a performer has made contact with the folk music of these parts a bond is created that can never be severed. Ana is artistic director of the competition and lectures folklore singing at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Technical University in Veliko Turnovo.

One of the most famous names in Bulgarian folklore, singer Boris Mashalov, whose centenary we mark in 2014, is also from Northern Bulgaria. Many events were dedicated to him, among them the first edition of the Annual Folklore Awards in the town of Smolyan. The idea for this event belongs to Konstantin Lazarov. As he puts it, the nominations and the awards in all spheres of folklore are an inspiration that will continue the tradition handed down to us.

Other events well worthy of note are the folklore forums organized by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) whose number has been growing with every passing year. The international festivals that took place in Veliko Turnovo, Varna, Dorkovo, Plovdiv were all highly successful. This year, the big CIOFF family was joined by Chelopech municipality, organizer of the first edition of Gold Dust.  Two traditional events were held in Southwestern Bulgaria – Maleshevo singing and dancing (Stroumyani municipality) and the Bisserov Sisters Songs (the town of Sandanski), both with an array of magnificent performers from abroad.

The outgoing year was so crammed with folklore events that it would be impossible to make mention of them all, so we stop here. We wish you and your loved ones happy holidays!

English Milena Daynova