The Nikolay Gyaurov Mixed Choir was founded in 1919 as part of the “Otets Paisiy-1893” Socio-Cultural Community Center in Velingrad. Its founder and first conductor was Elena Kantardzhieva – a respected high school teacher of French and a skilled pianist whose cultural vision laid the foundation for one of the city’s longest-standing musical ensembles.
Since its early days, the choir has been an integral part of Velingrad’s cultural life – performing at holiday celebrations, public gatherings, and on concert stages both in Bulgaria and abroad. The repertoire includes Slavic chants, works by Bulgaria’s first-generation composers, and classical choral pieces by Bach, Arcadelt, Bruckner, Morley, Bartók, and more. With this wide range, the choir maintains a balance between tradition and modern choral expression.
Over the decades, the ensemble has participated in international tours to Czechoslovakia, Germany, Northern Italy, and Greece. It has taken part in numerous festivals and artistic showcases and has been awarded gold medals at the 4th, 5th, and 6th Republican Festivals of Amateur Arts – a testament to the choir’s excellence and commitment.
Its distinguished conductors include Dimitar Suganov, Gerasima Pramatarova, Dimitar Mechev, Kostadin Grachenov, Maya Bizova, Svetlomir Grigorov, Petar Stefanov, Eli Gikova-Sazdova, Momchil Tomov, Ognyan Mitonov, among others. The choir has also worked with renowned music consultants such as Lili Makedonska, Prof. Samuil Vidas, Prof. Vasil Arnaudov, and Hristo Velev.
Since 1972, the choir’s accompanist and vocal coach has been Stoyanka Encheva – a devoted musical figure whose decades-long dedication has helped preserve and elevate the choir’s sound.
In 2023, the choir welcomed its new conductor, Maestra Yolanta Lazarova. Under her leadership, the ensemble has enriched its repertoire, increased its presence in the cultural life of Velingrad, and gained recognition through participation in festivals and competitions in both Bulgaria and Turkey.
In 2024, the Nikolay Gyaurov Mixed Choir celebrated its 105th anniversary and was honored by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria with a Certificate and Plaque for “Contribution to the Development of Culture.”
Today, the choir continues to bring together generations, memory, and inspiration – not merely as a performing group, but as a vibrant musical family that carries forward the cultural spirit of Velingrad with each note sung in harmony.