As every year, the Earth and Man museum hosted the international competition for instrumentalists and composers Music and Earth, 22 - 26 of April. The main aim of the competition is to stimulate young talents to create and perform music dedicated to the Earth and its survival. The results were clear in the early afternoon of April 26. Prof. Zheni Zaharieva, founder and artistic director of the contest says:

“I am happy to say that the number of countries sending talented young musicians goes up with every edition of the competition. In the Soloists category we have more than one first prize. One of its holders is violinist Petya Kovacheva. She was also awarded an award named after Vasko Abadjiev for her virtuoso performance. The winners also include a marvelous brass band from Bulgaria – Le vent quintet. First prizes also went to Bogdan Ivanov and Yurino Watanabe from Japan, who, though still so young, plays like a mature musician. We had composers taking part from France, Russia, Macedonia and Brazil. The prize-winners include musicians playing the cello, the harp, percussionists… This time there are many laureates, because the musical standard was very high.”

The sideline event at the Music and Earth International Competition was the piano master class by a member of the jury – Prof. Chantal Stigliani, France. Every night there were concerts, with soloists who are festival laureates from previous editions, as well as Prof. Lydia Oshavkova, flute and other members of the jury.

“Our objective was to show the participants they were being evaluated by prominent pedagogues, but also by excellent performers", Prof. Zheni Zaharieva says further. "As we appreciate the talent of the children, we always have a prize for the youngest performer. This time it went to violinist Victor Vassilev from Plovdiv, born in 2007. The chamber ensembles were excellent this year. They included the string quartet Libero, whose members are from the music school in Sofia. They won the special prize. I am happy to say chamber music is becoming more and more popular among the young musicians of Bulgaria.”

English version: Milena Daynova