Dear all -
I hope this note finds you in good spirits around the world,
and with a lovely song in your heart, or on your lips and mind!
A quick note -
with dates and names for July classes :) YAY - and to note that
I sent the news below via an email service (vs a direct email to the list), and it seems to have landed in some people's spam folders. You can look for it by searching for "Bulgarian Master Singer
Series."
To be sure not to miss the news - please add both these emails to your contact list:
And now to the Update!
The original email provided detailed overall information, please refer to that.
Below are the dates and all the names of our master teachers and what they will teach:
July 10 -
Ljubov and Manol Sarievi (soloists Zornitza Ensemble) - voice & bagpipe, Rhodope songs - direct from Smolyan in the Rhodope Mountains
July 11 -
Aneta Genova (local singer and educator) - Nedelino ancient diaphonic songs - direct from the Rhodope Mountains
July 17 -
Gergana Dimitrova (soloist Mystery of Bulgarian Voices Choir, Quartet Eva) - little known jewels of Northern Bulgaria songs
July 18 -
Violeta Marinova (soloist Mystery of Bulgarian Voices Choir) - beautifully ornamented slow and metered Pazardzhik songs
July 19 -
Neli Andreeva (soloist and choirmaster Filip Kutev Ensemble) - heavily ornamented Strandzha songs (rare treat!)
July 20 -
Dina Koleva (director and lead singer The Bistritsa Grannies) - three-part and ornamented solo voice Bistritsa songs, Shopluk
July 21 -
Sofia Yaneva (soloist Mystery of Bulgarian Voices Choir, Quartet Eva) - beautiful Thracian songs for all levels of vocal ability
July 23 -
Svetla Stanilova - Bulgarian folk singing technique for soloists and ensembles
- introductory practical guide and direct work (20 mins mini-privates) with 3 soloist (2 spots left)
Note/Update:
class with Svetla will only be held on Zoom (no YouTube stream)
cost for mini-private participation - $25 (only two spots left; let us know ASAP, if you are interested)
general participation - $50
We are streamlining the registration process and hope to
open it in the next few days!
In the meantime, feel free to send any questions, esp if you are interested to partake as a group on Zoom, or have a chance to come to Bulgaira.
Warmly from New York,
Vlada
July 10-23, 2026 - Study with Bulgaria's foremost master singers from anywhere in the world!
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Bulgarian Master Singers Series
Returns This July –
Direct from Bulgaria
Study with Bulgaria's foremost master singers from anywhere in the world.
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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
I am delighted to announce
a new cycle of the Bulgarian Master Singers Series and an exciting new chapter in the project that many of you helped bring to life during the pandemic!
This July, singers from around the world will once again have the opportunity to study Bulgarian folk singing directly with some of Bulgaria's living
masters of the art form.
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This year's series will
focus on guided practice sessions for new songs
from the native regions of each featured singer.
Together we will explore
ornaments,
rhythms,
phrasing,
tone production,
lyrics,
regional style,
and interpretation
while learning — and helping preserve — repertoire deeply rooted
in Bulgaria's rich folk traditions.
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Beyond the classes themselves, this cycle has
a special purpose.
We will be recording and developing new educational materials that will become part of the first comprehensive online library of Bulgarian folk singing classes. After editing, these recordings will expand the original Bulgarian Master Singers Series (2020–2022),
making high-level Bulgarian folk music education accessible worldwide for years to come.
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July 10-11 sessions, will be held in
Smolyan, in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, where I will also present Yasna Voices' documentary, "A Dragon Flew Over," at the
Rhodopes International Film Festival on July 12.
Most classes will be recorded at a professional studio in Sofia, July 17-21.
The classes will feature songs from Bulgaria's different ethnographic regions, each presented by a
master singer native to that region.
Each session will last approximately 2 hours, and will typically include
an intermediate and an advanced song, while incorporating a simpler song into the
warm-up.
As always, the material will be broken down and presented in a way that offers valuable learning opportunities
for singers at every skill level.
A short Q&A with the featured teacher will follow the session.
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A limited number of singers can participate in person in Bulgaria.
Five classes in
Sofia, two in Smolyan, and one in Plovdiv.
Daily one hour preparation, discussion, and practice session, led by Vlada, designed to help singers absorb the material deeper and prepare for productive
work with the guest teachers. A brief warm-up with the featured singers immediately before class begins as time allows.
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In-Person Tuition
• Five classes in Sofia — $820
• Seven classes in Sofia and Smolyan — $1,300
• Vocal Technique Class with Svetla Stanilova — price to be announced
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A small group of singers will
participate directly via Zoom, receiving live coaching and the opportunity to
ask questions throughout the class.
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Zoom Tuition
• Single Zoom class — $66
• Three Zoom classes — $169
• All Seven Zoom Classes
(excluding the vocal technique class with Svetla Stanilova) — $363
Special pricing is available for
small groups participating together via Zoom
Please ask us about
the specifics of group participation via Zoom
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▶️
PRIVATE YouTube OBSERVER
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Classes may also be observed
live through a dedicated private YouTube stream.
Participants will have access to a
moderated chat, may submit questions during class, and can participate in the
Q&A session at the end through the support team.
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YouTube Tuition
• Single Class — $30
• All Seven Classes
(excluding the vocal technique class with Svetla Stanilova) — $160
Please note that
YouTube access is for individual participants only
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RECORDING ACCESS
Participants will receive dedicated access to respective class recordings after the sessions via their registration email:
• In-Person and Zoom participants
— one month of access
• YouTube participants — one week of access
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A SPECIAL STUDY OPPORTUNITY WITH SVETLA STANILOVA
The final class of the series, will be devoted entirely to
Bulgarian folk singing technique and will be led by master pedagogue Svetla Stanilova.
We will visit Svetla in Plovdiv on July 23.
This session is
highly recommended for anyone seeking a more authentic Bulgarian folk sound while gaining a deeper understanding of how the voice functions. The principles explored can be applied to virtually any vocal style.
Only three active singers will be accepted for direct participation in this class. If you would like to be one of them, please let us know
as soon as possible.
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These classes are helping us build something we have dreamed about for years:
a permanent online home for Bulgarian folk singing study, accessible from anywhere in the world and
serving complete beginners, experienced singers, educators, and professional musicians alike.
We are excited that this vision is finally becoming a reality. Thank you for being part of this journey.
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Your participation, encouragement, and support make this project possible!
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We are currently preparing our registration platform to streamline the process and make it easier for all of us
— less administration and more learning, singing, and creating!
In the meantime, if you have any questions, we are happy to answer them.
Your questions help us make the experience even better.
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I look forward to meeting you,
singing with you, and sharing magical songs from Bulgaria this July.
With gratitude and song in my heart,
Vlada Tomova
Founder and Artistic Director
Bulgarian Master Singers Series
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Copyright (C) 2026 Bulgarian Master Singers Series
All rights reserved.
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