On November 6 in Los Angeles, the new foundation Bulgarian Classical Concerts - Los Angeles officially began its activities with a chamber concert, which featured works by Bulgarian classical and contemporary composers - Pancho Vladigerov, Marin Goleminov, Georgi Andreev, Penka Kouneva, Plamen Donev and Irina Chirkova. The foundation was founded by violinist Blagomira Lipari and composer Penka Kouneva, together with film director George Nicholas. According to the official website, their core values are: community, highest artistry, culture, inclusion.

The day after the event, successful violinist Blagomira Lipari had an interview with Radio Bulgaria:

"The concert went wonderfully. I think people really like the fact that we have Bulgarian Classical Concerts in Los Angeles and the society here accepts the new initiative with great joy. We have support from musicians from Los Angeles, from cultural figures from New York, from various parts of the USA and from other places on the planet where there are Bulgarians, as they are happy about the new venture. We have invited many famous Bulgarian musicians for our season and we hope to continue moving forward and upward."

Born in Shumen, Blagomira Lipari graduated from the National Music School "Lyubomir Pipkov" and the National Music Academy "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" in Sofia. She became Doctor of Musical Arts at the LSU School of Music in Baton Rouge under the guidance of renowned professor Kevork Mardirossian. There she also specialized in orchestral conducting. An extremely active and versatile musician, Blagomira received the "Ivan Vazov" medal by the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad in 2023 in Chicago for significant contributions to Bulgarian art and culture around the world. She is co-founder and concertmaster of New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago and a member of the executive board of the National Music & Global Culture Society in New York. She was co-chair of the popular "Bulgarian Concert Evenings in New York". She has performed on stages such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Stanford University and the University of Chicago, Orchestra Hall, Columbia College and Harris Theater in Chicago, as well as the Paris Conservatory.

The idea for the "Bulgarian Classical Concerts - Los Angeles" was endorsed around March 3, 2025. "We have many unique composers who, unfortunately, are not well known outside of Bulgaria. Every time I play Bulgarian music, people of different nationalities respond very well," the violinist says. Lipari has participated in a similar initiative - "Bulgarian Concert Evenings in New York". Is there anything in common between the two projects?

"Yes, the idea was for it to be something similar, but not exactly the same. Our organization is entirely focused on Bulgarian music. Most of our programs include only Bulgarian works. Here and there we put Western works that correspond, either in style or in years, with the composers. In this way, a connection is made between famous Western authors and their Bulgarian contemporaries."

Blagomira has a special connection with the work of great violinist and composer Petar Hristoskov, whom she calls "one of the greatest pedagogues of the 20th and 21st centuries in Bulgaria". She says that at every opportunity she performs his Capriccios for Solo Violin, often compared to those of Paganini, and will include them in the next concert of the new foundation - on March 5, 2026.

"I love being among people and doing something for society. This makes me happy. I hope that through a smile and through my performances, the people around me feel good and love music," Blagomira says. The path of a musician in the USA was quite difficult, but it was walked with joy. Because of her husband's work, their family moved to different cities many times. She already has close friends in Los Angeles. She likes the city and hopes to stay. The first thing that comes to her mind when she hear the word Bulgaria is:

"Warmth. Our culture is very warm, very spontaneous and I feel very good when I come home to Bulgaria... I was born there and I have a deep connection with our traditions, with our emotions, culture, heritage. And that's what I put into music. I put all my heart and soul, which comes from our culture."

Author: Tsvetana Toncheva

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: BTA, bgclassicalconcertsla.org, Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles, personal archive of Blagomira Lipari