The Varna Boys and Youths Choir was founded in 1969 by Professor Marin Chonev /1932-2012/, the choir’s long-standing Chief Conductor.The Choir includes about 100 boys and youngsters aged 5 to 25. Its activity is supported by the Municipality of Varna, Directorate “Culture and Spiritual Development”.
In its 53-year history, the Choir has won prizes from international competitions, honorary diplomas and awards from prestigious festivals in Bulgaria, Europe and America: Laureate Award and Gold Medals from national festivals, the Grand Prix- Rostock, Germany /1980/, Distinction from the International Boys Choirs Festival- Poznan, Poland /1982/, The Special Prize- Delphi, Greece /1994/, Summa cum Laude – Neerpelt, Belgium- Youth Formation /1988/, Special Prize for the best performance of a compulsory song by a male choir and First Prize- Montreux, Switzerland-Youth formation /1996/.Honorary diplomas and awards from: The Association of American Choir Conductors /1996,2004/;”Europe Cantat”-Bon, Germany /2013/; European Choir Federation for participation in the European Parliament, Brussels /2014/; Honorary Diplomas from the “Angels of Peace” International Choir Festival and the United Nations Headquarters- Vienna, Austria /2016/; International Music Festival – Tuscany /2018/.The Choir has made concert tours in Poland, Germany, Greece, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, America.The Choir has had numerous concert performances in prestigious national forums: MMF “Varna Summer”,International May Choral Competition, Varna ; “Sofia Music Weeks”; thePanoramaofBulgarianChoralArt; First International Easter Festival,Sofia,Festival of the Christmassong,Haskovo,First International festival’’The Boys are singing’’,Sofia,The Children’s Choir of Bulgaria in Sofia,Plovdiv,Burgas.
Varna Boys and Youths Choir was awarded the “VARNA AWARD”/2015/, ‘‘Grand Prix VARNA AWARD’’/2019/ Golden Lire and Cristal Lire award of the audience/2019/for outstanding achievements in the field of choral art and its 50th jubilee.
The Varna Boys and Youths Choir has released 6 compact discs, as well as recordings in the Belgian National Radio, the Swiss Radio Chablais, the Bulgarian National Radio and the Varna Radio. The repertoire includes acapella works of all styles and epochs, as well as canto-oratorial works. A special place in concert programs has been reserved for East-Orthodox chants and Bulgarian folklore, as well as author’s works.
Darina Krosneva graduated from Prof. P.VladigerovNAM in Sofia, majoring in choralconducting. For 43 years she has beenconducting Varna Boysand Youths Choir.Winner of awards and diplomas from international and national competitions and festivals.Winner of the Special Prize and the1st Prize for Male choir in Monteux(Switzerland).She has performed with great success in Bulgaria, Europe and the USA. She has made recordings in the Belgian National Radio, Radio Chablais – Switzerland, the Bulgarian National Radio, Radio Varna. From 1981 to 1985 she has been the chief conductor of the Female Choir of the Medical workers and winner of a gold medal. Shehas been awarded SilverLyre ,Golden Lyre andCrystal Necklace by the BMDU for high artistic achievementsand long artistic career,GoldenCentury Prize and Honorary Diploma of the Ministryof Culture of Bulgaria for an entire contributionto the choral art and to the Bulgarian culture.Member of the Jury at international competitions, long-standing member of the Organizing Committee of IMCC Prof. G. Dimitrov. Chairperson of the Conductors’Collegiumin Varna at the Bulgarian Choir Union.