The choir “Bodra Smiana” was founded in 1946. Actually, “Bodra Smiana” is not only a successor, but also a direct continuator of “Sofia Nightingales” (whose godfather is maestro Dobri Hristov), without interruption and in full continuity.
The founder of “Bodra Shmina” is the conductor and music teacher Boncho Bochev. He led the ensemble until 1975. It was under his leadership that the choir received its worldwide recognition. Tours and world awards are only a material expression of the admiration of the audience. The repertoire focuses on the works of Bulgarian composers – Georgi Dimitrov, Svetoslav Obretenov, Filip Kutev, Lyubomir Pipkov, Todor Popov. Lilyana Bocheva continues the worthy work of her father. Under her leadership, the “Bodra Shmiana” Choir has established itself as one of the best children’s choirs in Bulgaria and in the world. They perform works by Kl. Monteverdi, J. K. Pergolesi, K. Orff, G. Mahler, B. Britten, P. Eben, W. Tormis, Ivan Spasov, Ivelin Dimitrov, Krassimir Kurkchiiski and others.
Alexander Kochkov has been the conductor of the Bodra Shmiana Choir since September 2010. He graduated from NMA “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in the class of prof. Prof. Georgi Robev. He has been choirmaster and conductor of various choirs and vocal formations.
From 1999 to 2005, together with Zoya Vidas, he directed the choir of the Dobri Hristov School of Music and Singing at the NDD.
He is a piano teacher at the NDD. From 2002 to 2007 he conducted the Accent Chamber Choir, with which he participated in many festivals and won a silver medal at the Musica Sacra competition in Prague in 2003.
Under his direction the choir “Bodra Shmenia” took part in the production of “Bohemi” at the Sofia Opera, concerts of the NDD together with the Philharmonia “Pioneer”, festivals of Orthodox music, review “New Bulgarian Music” of the Union of Bulgarian Composers `2012, “Bulgaria sings” in 2016 and many others.