The mixed choir of doctors “Rodina” is the only choir in Bulgaria, uniting mainly employees from the healthcare sector in choral art and is currently one of the largest in the country.
The choir was established in 1955 in the city of Sofia as a mixed choir of health workers at the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, which was in force at that time. The founder and chairman of the Choir until 2003 was Krum Radev, head of a department in the Ministry and holder of the Order of Cyril and Methodius, 2nd degree. The first artistic director and conductor of the Choir was the famous Bulgarian choral conductor and music pedagogue Angel Manolov. Until the 1990s, maestro Manolov led the Choir in a team with assistant conductor Dr. Georgi Dzubeliev (an oncologist-radiotherapist with a higher musical education),
pianist Lilyana Baynova and vocal pedagogue – Petar Petrov, soloist of the Sofia Opera.
At the end of the 20th century, the Choir was successively led by the young conductors Krasimira Spiridonova, Katya Vuchkova and Danko Yordanov.
Since 2000, the Choir’s conductor has been Maya Vasileva-Chetrokova. A significant contribution to the vocal sound of the Choir has been made by the current vocal pedagogue, maestro Georgi Petkov, who is one of the students of the legendary Boris Hristov.
The Choir’s repertoire includes songs from the pre-classical period, classical music, Christian sacred music, opera choirs, contemporary and pop music, as well as masterpieces of Bulgarian musical folklore. Since then, the Choir’s performances have featured the classical works of Mozart and Beethoven, Schubert and Verdi, Tchaikovsky and Dubinsky, the legendary Bulgarian composers Dobri Hristov and Petko Staynov, Lyubomir Pipkov and Prof. Georgi Dimitrov, Todor Popov and Hristo Manolov. Moreover, there are already dedicated songs to the Choir, written by contemporary Bulgarian composers: Stoyan Babekov and Kiril Lambov.
The Rodina mixed choir is a traditional participant in choral festivals in Bulgaria and abroad, some of which are: the International Choir Festival of Orthodox Music “Holy Mother of God – Dostoyno Esst” in the city of Pomorie (2016 and 2017); the III International Choir Festival in Belgrade, Serbia (2019); the 15th International Festival of Early Music, Song and Dance “Stravaganza” in the city of Shabla (2022); the traditional annual festivals of the Bulgarian Choral Union: “New Bulgarian Music” and “Bulgaria Sings” and many others. It performs numerous charity concerts in the country on the occasion of church and national holidays and famous anniversaries. It performs together with chamber symphony orchestras.
In 2023, the Choir was selected as the representative choir of the National Section of Bulgaria at the International Council of Folklore Festival Organizers (CIOFF) in the 6th National Competition of Folklore Ensembles of Bulgaria.
Last year (2024), the Choir of Medics successfully represented Bulgaria at the 10th International Summer Festival and Choir Competition “Ohrid Pearl” in Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia.
The Choir of Medics “Rodina” is a winner of many awards from Bulgarian and international institutions – the Order of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Golden and Silver Lyre of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Figures; an honorary plaque of the Bulgarian Medical Union; a golden badge of the “Mati Bulgaria” movement; plaques of the city halls of San Turci and Borja in Spain; diplomas from participations in the country and abroad, etc.
Maya Vasileva was born in Plovdiv into a family of musicians. He graduated from the National Music School “Dobrin Petkov”,
Plovdiv – piano major in the class of Rositsa Ivancheva, and in 2000 – the National Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov”, Sofia – choral conducting major in the class of Prof. Lilia Gyuleva and music pedagogy. 
Since 1999, he has been the conductor of the Children’s Choir at the National Cultural Complex with the Italian Lyceum. In 2000, he began working as the conductor of the mixed choir of doctors “Rodina”, and since 2014 he accepted the invitation to be the conductor of the Choir of “Musical Laboratory for Man”, whose creator and chief conductor is Maestro Yordan Kamdzhalov. In 2018, he created the vocal group “Smiling Stars” at the Montessori Educational Center Association. With the four groups, Maya Vasileva actively participates in the cultural life of Bulgaria and has had a number of appearances abroad. Since 2009, she has been the director of the first Private Primary School “Dr. Maria Montessori”.
Maya Vasileva is the winner of numerous awards: Golden Lyre of the Union of Music and Dance Artists; Golden Badge of the “Mati Bulgaria” Association; Golden Badge of the Medical Union in Bulgaria; Award of the Mayor of San Turzi and the Municipality of Borja, Spain. She is the holder of diplomas and certificates for a prosperous conductor and pianist performer from international concert participations in Belgium, Italy, Serbia, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Poland.
In 2020, she received an award from the “Allegro Vivace” program for Musical Project of the Year “Christmas” – a national tour of the “Yordan Kamdzhalov” Foundation with the music of Dimitar Nenov, with the participation of the “Genesis” orchestra and the “Musical Laboratory for Humans” choir.