Detska Kitka Choir

Founded in 1947 by Anastas Marinkev, the Detska Kitka Choir is one of the oldest and best known youth choirs in Bulgaria.

The choir acquired its international reputation in the 80's and 90's under the leadership of Prof. Zlatina Deliradeva, when it won a series of awards from the international choral competitions in Celje (Slovenia), Debrezen (Hungary), Arnhem (the Netherlands), Varna (Bulgaria), Cantonigros (Spain), Halle (Germany) and Maasmechelen (Belgium).

In 2006 Detska Kitka won the Grand Prix of the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music of Prague (Czech Republic).[1][2]

In 2013, under the leadership of Yana Deliradeva, the group won a Silver Medal and the Best Performance of a Work Composed after 1990 Award of the International Youth Choir Festival of Celje, Slovenia.[3]

Detska Kitka tours internationally once, sometimes twice a year, and has appeared in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. Since the 1970s the group has delivered more than 900 performances on Bulgarian and international stage and participated in numerous international music festivals. It is a three-time participant in the cultural programmes of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The group's recent international appearances include a concert tour of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (2008), and performances at the International Choir Festival of St. Petersburg (2009), the Asturias Joven Youth Choir Festival, Spain (2010), the Festival of Habaneras and Polyphony in Torrevieja, Spain (2011), the Moscow Easter Festival (2012), the International Youth Choir Festival in Celje, Slovenia (2013), and the International Children's Choir Festival in Halle, Germany (2014).

• 2013 International Youth Choir Festival, Celje, Slovenia, with Yana Deliradeva - Silver Medal, Girls' Choirs and Best Performance of a Work Composed after 1990 Award
• 2006 International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, Prague, Czech Republic – Winner, Grand Prix; Winner, Children’s Choirs
• 2003 Honorary Sign of the City of Plovdiv
• 1999 International Choir Competition of Flanders, Maasmechelen, Belgium – 3rd Prize, Women’s Choirs
• 1998 International Choir Competition, Halle, Germany – The Gunter Erdman Special Award for best interpretation of a contemporary choral work
• 1997 The Golden Lyre Award of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers
• 1996 The Plovdiv Award for achievement in the field of music
• 1995 International Choir Competition, Cantonigros, Spain – 3rd Prize, Children’s Choirs
• 1989 Prof. Georgi Dimitrov International Choir Competition, Varna, Bulgaria – Winner, Children's Choirs
• 1987 International Choir Competition, Arnhem, Netherlands – 3rd Prize, Children's Choirs
• 1984 Bela Bartok International Choir Competition, Debrecen, Hungary – Winner, Folklore; 2nd Prize, Contemporary Music
• 1981 International Choir Competition, Celje, Slovenia - Winner, Children's Choirs

The choir is currently led by: Zlatina Deliradeva, principal conductor; Yana Deliradeva, conductor; Nikolina Kurmazliyska, junior choir conductor / vocal coach, and Sonya Zapryanova, accompanist / vocal coach.

• Official Website of the Detska Kitka Choir

• Detska Kitka at the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, Prague, 2006