The "Bodra pessen" children`s choir

“BODRA PESSEN” CHILDREN’S CHOIR
OF THE MUNICIPAL CHILDREN’S COMPLEX
SHUMEN, BULGARIA

“Bodra pessen” Children’s Choir of the Municipal children’s complex in Shumen, Bulgaria was founded on 05.12.1963. Its founder and chief artistic manager and conductor for 48 years was Prof. Veneta Vicheva. Since 2011 the art director and conductor of the choir has been Denica Uzunova, a follower of Professor Veneta Vicheva. Zhaneta Katsarova is the piano accompanist, Jordanka Ilieava is a choir-master.
Its many awards and medals from national and international festivals and competitions have been a source of pride for the town of Shumen and our country.

“Bodra pesen” choir is a laureate and gold medalist from the IXth and Xth World youth festivals in Sofia /Bulgaria/ and Berlin /Germany/. Its performance was marked with great success in the national and international festivals in: Olomoutz – The Czech Republic; Hamburg – Germany; VIth European choir meetings – Warsaw, Poland; Sofia music weeks, Vivia la Musica – Sofia, Bulgaria; International choir assembly “Bulgarian Riviera” – Varna, Bulgaria and others.
“Bodra pesen” choir is distinguished in representing the Bulgarian children’s choir arts in Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Russia, Germany, Romania, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria and France.
There were four LP records; studio and documentary recordings in Radio Berlin, Radio Leipzig, Budapest, Brussels, Hamburg, and Sofia; at the national Polish television; and also many audio and video recordings, and a CD.
“Bodra pesen” choir won the following national and international medals and awards:
- “St. St. Cyrill and Methodius” order – 1st rank;
- “For distinguished service to the Bulgarian national army” order;
- In 2004 the choir was accepted as a member of the International choir union;
- In 2004 “Bodra pesen” choir was awarded “European culture ambassador” by the European choir federation at the European Union among 1750 teams.

“Bodra pessen” choir is a follower of the rich cultural traditions of Shumen. One of the first cultural houses was established there. The first theater and operetta performance took place there. The first symphony orchestra was established in Shumen.The first school mixed choir was established there by Dobri Voinikov in 1858. Shumen is the host of The International Children and Youth Choral Festival "Dobri Voinikov" initiated by prof. Veneta Vicheva

Prof. Veneta Vicheva graduated from the National Musical Academy specializing choir conducting in the class of prof. George Dimitrov. Since her graduation in 1956 till today she has worked actively as a choir conductor. She conducted “ Native sounds” mixed choir which has existed for 109 years, as well as “ Bodra pessen” children choir which was established by her in 1963. The National Students Choir Festival “ Dobry Voinikov” was initiated by her in 1971. The Festival is a member of the Balkan choir Forum.
She teaches choir conducting in Konstantin Preslavski University of Shumen. She was honoured “ Dr. honoris causa”. She was awarded with “ Cyril and Methodius” medal – first degree, “Shumen’s honorary citizen”. She was awarded “ Crystal lyre” - an honourable crystal symbol from the Bulgarian Composers Union for high achievements in musical art; a golden symbol of the Bulgarian choir union, a silver honour symbol of the Balkan choir forum, a prize for conductor mastership “Moskow sounds” and many other awards and prizes.

Denitsa Uzunova is a student of prof. Vicheva. She works at the Municipal Children's Complex, Shumen as a senior teacher and а conductor of "Bodra pessen" choir. In 2000 she completed The Second International Conductors Workshop in Varna with Professor Boris Tevlin (Russia), prof. Helen Gee (France), Dr. Larry Wyatt (USA), prof. Marin Chonev (Bulgaria).
From 2004 - 2009 she completed a PhD, specializing in musicology at Shumen University "Bishop Konstantin Preslavski" under the guidance of Professor Vicheva Veneta. In 2006 she attended a class of prof. Erwin Ortner – a choral-conductor / Austria / with Arnold Schoenberg Choir in Rousse during the March Music Days.
Since 2011 Denitsa Uzunova has been an artistic director and conductor of the choir.
Denitsa Uzunova organized tours and participated in concerts of "Bodra pessen" choir in international choral festivals in Warsaw, Poland; Nancy, France; Antalya, Turkey; Moscow, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia.
In 2010 Denitsa received the First Prize in the Third National Competition for teachers working in extracurricular activities organized by the festival program "Friends of Bulgaria" and the Ministry of Education.
In 2014 in the international contest for teachers "Extracurricular activities - for sustainable quality education of students ", organized by the Trade Union of Bulgarian Teachers together with the foundation " Sustainable Development of Bulgaria" under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Denitsa Uzunova most wins highest award - the special prize of the Ministry of education and Science and was awarded by the Deputy Minister Vanya Kastreva.
She participated in the organization and conduct of The International Children and Youth Choral Festival "Dobri Voinikov" – Shumen.
Denitsa Uzunova is the author of articles on topics related to choral art.