By Angela Rodel
What better way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and Fulbright’s 80th anniversary than kicking off the academic year with music, fun and friends? From September 11-15, Fulbright Bulgaria was delighted to co-host a tour by the American Festival Singers, a vibrant 30-member ensemble that performs sacred music in a wide range of styles. Although based in the United States, the choir has toured Europe every autumn for over a decade–and this year we are thrilled that they decided to visit Bulgaria and Romania for the first time to share their unique repertoire with local audiences.
The American Festival Singers arrived in Bulgaria and took a quick trip to Rila Monastery before their first concert at the gorgeous Aula of Sofia University on Saturday, September 12. After a welcome speech by ED Angela Rodel and the official launch of the recruitment campaign for Bulgarian Scholars and Visiting Researchers, the local Elitsa Folk Choir, led by Assistant Conductor Filip Stavrov, delighted the US guests and the 150-strong audience with a short set of beloved Bulgarian classics by composers such as Philip Koutev and Stefan Kanev. Then the US chorus took the stage, and under the magical baton of Maestro James Knapp, a singer and conductor with more than 20 years of international experience, all traces of jet lag disappeared as he and accompanist Ricki Moyer led the chorus in a program that ranged from classical choral works by Hayden and Handel to more contemporary American spirituals and Gospel music, including even a Native American rendition of hallelujah!
After the musical performances, Fulbright ED Angela Rodel and Program Officer Maria Kostova invited participants and guests to a cocktail reception where they could continue their conversarions in a more relaxed environment, as well as discuss Fulbright exchange opportunities.
After a short day-trip to Plovdiv on September 13, the American Festival Singers traveled to Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria’s historical capital city, to sing in the striking Nadezhda Hall, where several constitutional conventions were held following the country’s liberation in 1878. Since the Bulgarian school year officially begins on September 15, a joint concert on the eve of September 14 was held with the local Bulgarche children and youth folk ensemble, directed by Galina Ivanov and Anton Stoychev. The US singers again delighted a full house of local listeners with their diverse repertoire, after which the impressive Bulgarche youth folk orchestra and expansive choir took the audience on a musical tour through Bulgaria’s folk regions. The evening culminated in a joint horo dance, which the American guests enthusiastically joined. Afterwards the participants enjoyed refreshments and casual conversation.
Fulbright Bulgaria would like to thank all of our partners who made this wonderful exchange experience possible: the US State Department, James Knapp and the American Festival Singers, Sofia University, Elitsa Folk Choir, Bulgarche Youth Ensemble, the Nadezhda Community Center, and of course all of our alumni and friends who joined us at these events! Given this festive start, here’s to hoping that the new 2026-27 academic year will offer us many more occasions for celebration!
