The Children’s Choir “Dobri Hristov” at the Children’s Choir of the Children’s and Youth Centre of Varna was one of the first Bulgarian children’s choirs founded in 1952-1953 by the prominent music teacher Veselin Ivanov. Generations of distinguished conductors have written their names in the history of the choir.
Since 2016 the conductor of the choir is Galina Stanisheva, pianist – Darina Titkova-Spirieva.
In accordance with the new international trends in the development of children’s choral singing, the different ensembles – Children’s and Concert, which train more than 100 children, have an age distribution from 6 to 18 years old. Young singers are taught solfege, vocal technique with an emphasis on beautiful, healthy sound and musical expression. They take an active part in the musical life of Varna – in municipal celebrations, creative projects, anniversaries and national holidays. The choir has won diplomas and awards at International competitions and festivals in Belgium – Neerpelt, France – Belfort, Switzerland – Montreux, Czech Republic – Prague, Germany – Wolfenbüttel, Macedonia – Ohrid, Riva del Garda – Italy, Poznan – Poland, Thessaloniki – Greece, Vienna – Austria. Through his participation in National Forums he has won diplomas, awards and diplomas from festivals in Bulgaria. In 2020 the choir participated in the International Music Festival “Varna Summer” in creative collaboration with the chamber ensemble “Symphonietta” with conductor prof. Milko Kolarov.
In 2019, the choir was awarded the prize of the Yordan Kamdzhalov Foundation at the XI Festival of Women’s and Girls’ Choirs “Prof. Lilia Giuleva”, Targovishte.
For its contribution to musical art, the Dobri Hristov Children’s Choir was awarded the Golden Lyre of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists.
Galina Stanisheva, graduated with honours from the National School of Arts “Dobri Hristov”, Sofia. Varna, and subsequently a master’s degree at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in. She graduated with a degree in Music Pedagogy. She studied conducting under Assoc. Prof. Krikor Cetinyan. She specialized in classical singing in the class of prof. Valentina Alexandrova, presented a solo concert.
In 1993 she started working in the Municipal Children’s Complex in the town. In 1993 she started working at the Children’s Children’s Center in Varna. Since 2002 she has been part of the team of Varna Children’s and Youth Opera and Children’s Choir “Dobri Hristov”, where she works as a vocal pedagogue and solfège teacher. Since 2014 he has been conductor of the Children’s Choir, and since 2016 he has been conducting the Concert Choir of the Dobri Hristov Children’s Choir, with which he has realized numerous solo concert programs at home and abroad.
In 2013, she received the Municipal Children’s Complex Teacher of the Year Award. In 2015 she took part in a Master Class for choir conductors in the town. In 2015, she took part in a concert in Plovdiv with the teacher Assoc. Krikor Cetinyan.
Member of the committee for preparation and conducting of the International May Choir Contest of Prof. “Georgi Dimitrov”, Varna.
For her high professionalism and contribution to the musical art, and on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Children’s Choir “Dobri Hristov”, in 2018 she was awarded the Silver Lyre of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists.