The Sofia Boys’ Choir – The first boys’ choir in Bulgaria was established in 1968, in the “Valentin Andreev” community center, today’s “Tsar Boris III – 1928” National Community Center in Sofia.
It is composed of students from the capital’s schools between the ages of 6 and 15. Since 1997, the choir has had two formations – Boys’ and Youth. The Youth formation includes singers who sang in the Boys’ formation. They perform together in a Mixed formation and separately. The founder and first conductor of the choir is Mrs. Lilyana Todorova.
The conductor of the choir from 1989 to January 2025 is Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva. With perseverance and creative courage, she turned the ensemble into a permanent participant in the concert life of the capital and the country, significantly expanding its repertoire and improving its artistic qualities. Under her leadership, the traditions of the Christmas and Easter concerts were established. The Sofia Boys’ Choir became a regular participant in major national and international music forums, including the International Music Festival “Sofia Music Weeks” and the International Student Choir Festival “Dobri Voynikov” – Shumen, etc.
A special place in the repertoire is occupied by Church Slavonic music and arrangements of Bulgarian folklore, and alongside them works by Bulgarian composers and works of various styles and genres – from the 14th century to the present day. Many established Bulgarian composers write songs specifically for choirs and for Prof. Blagoeva. In 1997, Prof. Blagoeva created the Youth Formation of the Sofia Boys’ Choir. Under her leadership, the Choir has been awarded numerous national and international awards – “Silver Lyre” (1998), “Golden Lyre” (2008) and “Crystal Lyre” (2009 and 2012) of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists, “Musician of the Year” for 2002 in the category “Active Creative Activity” of the “Allegro Vivace” program of the Bulgarian National Radio, twice “Golden Feather” (1998, 2013), Honorary Badge of the Sofia Municipality on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the choir, the Order of St. John Kukuzel of the Holy Synod for their contribution to the spread of Church Slavonic music, Honorary Plaque of the Ministry of Culture, as well as a number of diplomas and awards from the Bulgarian Choral Union, the Union of Bulgarian Composers and other institutions.
Since February 2025, the conductor of the Sofia Boys’ Choir has been Alexander Mitev – a graduate of Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva. Under his leadership, the ensemble develops active concert, educational and public activities aimed at strengthening the traditions of one of the most emblematic Bulgarian children’s choirs and expanding its presence in contemporary cultural life.
The Sofia Boys’ Choir is the first Bulgarian children’s choir to win a major award at an international choral competition; the first Bulgarian choir to win the right to participate in the super competition for the European Grand Prix for choral singing in 1994 in Tolosa (Spain); the first Bulgarian choir to participate in a festival of choirs laureates of international competitions in Vaison-la-Romaine (France) in 1995; the only representative from Bulgaria in the collection of children’s choirs of the European Union “We are the Future”, published in 2014.
The Sofia Boys’ Choir is an established participant in the musical life of the capital and the country. The ensemble performs solo concerts and works together with leading musical institutions and performers, including the Sofia Philharmonic, the orchestra and choir of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, the Classic FM Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio, the Vidin Sinfonietta, the Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble, the Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir, the Vasil Arnaudov Sofia Chamber Choir, as well as prominent soloists such as Anna Tomova-Sintova and Tsvetana Bandalovska.
The choir has released ten solo albums and participated in nine more joint recordings with various musical formations. Since 1993, the choir has been awarded one Grand Prize, five First Prizes and five Second Prizes at seven international choir competitions and has received numerous national and international awards. The Sofia Boys’ Choir has performed successfully in Russia, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Moldova, Poland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Romania, Japan and Iceland, among others.
The choir has been awarded numerous national and international awards – “Silver Lyre” (1998), “Golden Lyre” (2008) and “Crystal Lyre” (2009 and 2012) of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists, “Musician of the Year” for 2002 in the category “Active Creative Activity” of the program “Allegro Vivace” of the Bulgarian National Radio, twice “Golden Feather” (1998, 2013), Honorary Badge of the Sofia Municipality on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the choir, the Order “St. John Kukuzel” of the Holy Synod for their contribution to the spread of Church Slavonic music, Honorary Plaque of the Ministry of Culture, as well as a number of diplomas and awards from the Bulgarian Choral Union, the Union of Bulgarian Composers and other institutions. Alexander Mitev was born in Sofia. He completed secondary education at the National Music School “Lyubomir Pipkov”. Master is in “Chorus Conducting” and “Pedagogy of Music Education” (NMA “Professor Pancho Vladigerov”) and a bachelor’s degree in “Opera Singing” (New Bulgarian University). He graduated with a degree in “Special and School Psychology” (New Bulgarian University).
Alexander Mitev is a member of the International Organization for Music Education I.S.M.E., and since 2019 he has been an individual member of the Bulgarian Choral Union. He is the author of articles on Bulgarian musical education and upbringing, participates in television and radio programs for culture and education. He works as a choirmaster and solfeggio teacher in the Sofia Boys’ Choir in the period 2017-2022. Alexander Mitev is a laureate of the “Crystal Lyre” of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists and Radio “Classic FM”, a Worthy Bulgarian of BNT and the newspaper “24. Chasa”. In 2022, he won the Audience Award at the VII National Festival of Christmas and New Year’s Songs, Haskovo, with the song he wrote “Christmas has come”.
In 2025, conductor Alexander Mitev was awarded a diploma and a plastic “SOVA” by the Ministry of Education and Science and the Regional Department of Education – Sofia-city for his contribution to the capital’s education.