The popular female choral ensemble from Bulgaria, Vanya Moneva, is coming to the GNO Alternative Stage for the first time. The ensemble, under the direction of the internationally renowned Vanya Moneva, contributes to the promotion of the rich Bulgarian musical heritage, utilizing the potential of the human voice in an impressive way.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Vanya Moneva Choir

Founded in 1994 by conductor Vanya Moneva, it is one of the most popular female choral ensembles in Bulgaria. Under Moneva's musical direction, the ensemble boasts a wide repertoire of various musical genres, ranging from rearranged traditional and church music, cantatas, and oratorios to contemporary jazz and pop, as well as world music. At the same time, it has participated in several film and theater productions. In 2016, the Vanya Moneva Choir recorded a version of the Japanese National Anthem, which was the culminating part of the Tokyo 2020 handover presentation at the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They have collaborated with Theodosii Spassov, Vesselina Kasarova, Milcho Leviev & Bulgarian National Radio's Big Band, Jun Miyake, Sheena Ringo with performances in various countries such as Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Israel, Austria, China, India and Japan.

Vanya Moneva

Distinguished choir director from Bulgaria. She graduated with first-class honours from the National Academy of Music «Pancho Vladigerov» (Bulgaria) in professor Vasil Arnaudov's class, studying choir conducting. For 30 years, she has conducted a large number of choirs and musical ensembles, including "Mystery of Bulgarian Voices", the Women's Traditional Music Chorus of the Bulgarian National Radio, the Sofia Girls' Choral Society, the Choral School of Kazanlak, as well as at many other choral groups in Sofia, Lom, and Stara Zagora in collaboration with many Bulgarian composers. Her love for Bulgarian folklore led her to the foundation of Vanya Moneva choir. She has received numerous awards at international competitions. She is also a music producer at the Bulgarian National Radio.