The women’s vocal formation “VIVA” at the House of Energy in the town of Kozloduy was originally established in 2001 at the “Hristo Botev – 1879” Community Cultural Center–Temple Monument, under the leadership and direction of Stefka Slaveva and pianist Zdravka Nikolaeva. Throughout the ensemble’s creative history, conductors Boyana Anchova and Ivet Glozhenska, as well as pianist Tsvetelina Chipeva, have consecutively contributed professionally to its development over the years. Since the beginning of 2025, the choir has been led by conductor Irina Traykova, while Zdravka Nikolaeva remains the pianist.
The formation has a diverse repertoire of works that is continuously renewed and enriched, including pieces from the world choral treasury, church chants, and arranged folk music.
“VIVA” participates in concerts in the town and region, as well as in national and international festivals and competitions. Its first performance outside Kozloduy took place in 2004. The ensemble participated in a festival of church chants organized by the Bulgarian Metropolis in Sofia and in the Second Choir Festival “Let It Be Summer” in Burgas, where it received very high praise from the festival jury. In November 2005, the ensemble gave two independent concerts in Greece, in the cities of Livadia and Orchomenos, at the invitation of Maestro Todor Kabakchiev, conductor of the choir in Livadia. In 2008, it participated in the 11th Gathering of Choirs from Danube Towns, “The Danube – River of Friendship and Song,” in Silistra. In 2011, the formation visited Ohrid in the Republic of North Macedonia. “VIVA” also participates in various online competitions and in 2024 and 2025 won first prizes in the “Christmas Confession” competition, as well as a third prize and the special award “Voice for Peace” in the “ORFEUM 2025” competition. 
Irina Traykova graduated from the National School of Arts “Panayot Pipkov” in Pleven and from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv with a specialization in Classical Singing. Since 2020, she has taught piano at the music school at the House of Energy in Kozloduy. In 2024, she became the vocal pedagogue of choir “VIVA,” and from the beginning of 2025 she assumed leadership of the choir as conductor.