Detska Kitka Choir

The Detska Kitka Choir is a girls’ choir based in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Biography

The choir made its international reputation in the 80's and the 90's when, under the leadership of Zlatina Deliradeva, it won a series of awards from some of Europe's most prestigious international choral competitions, those in Celje (Slovenia), Debrezen (Hungary), Arnhem (the Netherlands), Varna (Bulgaria), Cantonigros (Spain), Halle (Germany) and Maasmechelen (Belgium).

The choir tours internationally once, sometimes twice a year, and has appeared in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. Since the 1970ies the choir has delivered more than 600 performances on Bulgarian and international stage and participated in thirteen international music festivals.

Detska Kitka is a three-time participant in the cultural programmes of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The choir's recent international highlights include performances at the Brussels arts festival Europalia (2002), the International Choral Festival in Nancy, France (2005), the 8th European Youth Music Festival in Passau, Germany (2005) and the festival Musique au Pays d’Hanau in Alsace, France (2005).

In December 2006 Detska Kitka won the Grand Prix of the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Prague (Czech Republic).

Awards and distinctions

• 2006 International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, Prague, Czech Republic – Winner, Grand Prix; Winner, Children’s Category
• 2003 Honorary Sign of the City of Plovdiv
• 1999 International Choir Competition of Flanders, Maasmechelen, Belgium – 3rd Prize, Women’s Category
• 1998 International Choir Competition, Halle, Germany – The Gunter Erdman Special Award for best interpretation of a contemporary choral work
• 1997 The Golden Lyre Award of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers
• 1996 The Plovdiv Award for achievement in the field of music
• 1995 International Choir Competition, Cantonigros, Spain – 3rd Prize in Children’s Category
• 1989 Prof. Georgi Dimitrov International Choir Competition, Varna, Bulgaria – Winner, Children's Category
• 1987 International Choir Competition, Arnhem, Netherlands – 3rd Prize, Children's Category
• 1984 Bela Bartok International Choir Competition, Debrecen, Hungary – Winner, Folklore Category; 2nd Prize, Contemporary Music Category
• 1981 International Choir Competition, Celje, Slovenia -- Winner

Leadership

The choir is currently led by: Zlatina Deliradeva, principal conductor; Yana Deliradeva, conductor; Milena Polonova, vocal coach / accompanist; and Nadezhda Petrova, vocal coach and accompanist.

References

Detska Kitka returns with the Grand Prix of the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Prague, website of Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, in Bulgarian

Bulgarian Children's Choirs on the International Stage, Bulgarian National Radio, in Bulgarian

Distinciones otorgadas a artistas búlgaros en el 2006, Bulgarian National Radio

External links

Biographic entry for Zlatina Deliradeva, Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts Plovdiv (choose name from menu).

Photos

Detska Kitka at the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, Prague, 2006