National Academy of Music Prof.Pancho Vladigerov - Sofia

The “Prof. Pantcho Vladigerov” National Academy of Music is a highly authoritative educational establishment whose graduates have achieved professional success in Bulgaria and abroad. Specialists who have obtained their higher musical education at the National Academy of Music are received on world stages, in orchestras and opera theaters, in secondary and higher education music schools, in colleges and universities. The students of the Academy are prize-winners of prestigious international competitions and take part in international music initiatives. Established in 1921 by Royal Decree No. 145 of July 21,, 1921, the State Academy of Music took over the higher education to students who were being taught at the already operating Music School, attracted new students and thus responded to the increased needs for professional musicians in Bulgaria at the beginning of the 20th century. Pillars in our cultural history such as Dobri Hristov, Ivan Vulpe, Stoyan Brashovanov, Stoyan Dzhudzhev, Pantcho Vladigerov, Dimitar Nenov, Andrey and Veselin Stoyanov, Lyubomir Pipkov, Marin Goleminov, Hristo Brambarov and others taught at the State Academy of Music, which is the oldest higher education music school in Bulgaria and the one with the longest traditions. In the 1930s an Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sasha Popov, where student instrumentalists practice to improve their performance, was established in the Academy. The orchestra gave public concerts with a varied programs of works by European and Russian composers as well as works by young Bulgarian composers and left lasting traces in the history of symphonic music in our country. Today the National Academy of Music has three departments: Theory, Composition and Conducting Faculty, Instrumental Faculty and Vocal Faculty. There are separate majors in Ballet and in Pop and Jazz Art. The courses in the National Academy of Music are taught by renowned representatives of the art and science of music in Bulgaria whose professionalism is measured by their presence in the world music life and research exchange and is a guarantee for the quality of education and development of the students. The Academy offers high-quality education in over 30 majors whose syllabuses, which are based on the tested and proven traditions of the Bulgarian vocal, instrumental and ballet school, have been updated to match the contemporary research and teaching standards. The students have the opportunity to take part in productions, concerts, music performances, research meetings, seminars, conferences, courses of lectures. In addition to the regular education, master classes and courses of lectures by renowned Bulgarian and foreign musicians and musicologists are organized. The “Prof. Pantcho Vladigerov” National Academy of Music has signed agreements with foreign higher-education music institutions and is expanding its range of contacts and cooperation.