The mixed choir “Rodni Zvutsi” (“Native Sounds”) was founded in 1898. Under the direction of its first conductor, Veliko Dyugmedzhiev, the operetta tradition in Bulgaria was inaugurated in 1914 in the city of Shumen. Later, the ensemble was led by conductors Anastas Zidarov and Georgi Babachev. Many distinguished singers who went on to bring international recognition to the Bulgarian vocal school in opera and operetta emerged from the ranks of the choir, among them Lyuba Velichkova‑Velich, Hristina Angelakova, Stoyan Kolarov, Stefan Anastasov, and others.
From 1961 to 2011, the long‑standing conductor and artistic director of Rodni Zvutsi was Prof. Veneta Vicheva. Under her leadership, the ensemble achieved high artistic results and became one of the leading Bulgarian choirs. In 2005, her student Nikolay Andriyanov became assistant conductor, and in 2011 he took over the leadership of the choir. Within a short time, Rodni Zvutsi developed an active concert life and enriched its repertoire with works by Baroque, Classical, Russian, and Bulgarian composers. In 2014, the choir won the second prize at the prestigious International Choral Competition “Singing World” in Saint Petersburg.
After a hiatus between 2016 and 2019, in 2020 Prof. Dr. Nikolay Andriyanov was invited once again to take over the leadership of Rodni Zvutsi and to restore the ensemble.
The choir has performed with great success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Slovenia, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, and other countries. The mixed choir Rodni Zvutsi is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions.