"Women in Music" is a project of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which presents the achievements of women as artists, composers, conductors, and songwriters. For the second year in a row, the initiative is also related to International Women's Day - March 8, calling on all European radio stations on this date to broadcast music created and performed by women in all genres.

The Bulgarian National Radio joins in with the song "I started gazing at the heavens dreamily" performed by Srebrina Mineva from the Mixed Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio and the pianist Monika Gvozdeva, accompanist of the choir. The text is by the famous Bulgarian poet Dora Gabe, the music by Emelina Gorcheva, winner of a number of international composition competitions, chief assistant in chamber singing at the Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy in Sofia. Her works have been performed in the United States, Canada and many European countries.

"The song was written last year for the Varban Varbanov National Competition held in Burgas and is included in the mandatory programme for performers”, said Emelina Gorcheva to Radio Bulgaria. “At the invitation of Mrs. Lyubomira Alexandrova, conductor of the Mixed Choir of the BNR, I had the pleasure to hear my work, transformed in different ways and included in the programmes of the BNR on this wonderful occasion - March 8. Huge thanks for the trust! I am infinitely happy to have the opportunity to be part of the celebration of so many women. I also want to make a wish to the fairer sex. Let all women keep their uniqueness, their independence! And to know that they have tremendous power - the power to handle so many activities in so many fields. Be proud of being women!"

This year, on the occasion of International Women's Day, a discussion is planned on the existing gender imbalance in public radio stations in Europe, the contribution of women in the music industry, as well as various initiatives and policies related to gender equality (Addressing the Gender Gap in Music Radio).

The celebration also includes the International Rostrum of Composers (IRC), a forum organized by the UNESCO International Music Council, which offers EBU radio stations rarely performed works by women composers from all over Europe.

BNR participates in the project with the work Isida’ s Unveiling by Julia Tsenova (1948-2010). The work, created in 1998, is for alto saxophone, piano, trumpet and sound system with echo effects. Prof. Tsenova passed away at the age of 62, but left significant works in the field of music and stage genres, symphonic chamber, choral, vocal-instrumental, chamber music, pop and jazz pieces. She also had many years of experience as a jazz pianist, teaching at the Pop and Jazz Department of the National Academy of Music. Julia Tsenova is the only woman accepted in the composition class of the classic of the Bulgarian school of composition Pancho Vladigerov - a fact that is a recognition of her qualities, but at the same time is indicative of public attitudes towards gender differences not only Bulgaria.

English Rossitsa Petcova

Photos: private library