THE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF „CLASSICART“ CONCERTS

Abstract

ClassicalArt String Quartet and Ensemble was established in 2017 by a group of talented soloists, leaders, and concertmasters from prominent symphony orchestras in Sofia. The ensemble presently comprises: Kalina Hristova is the concertmaster of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. Galina Lyubenova plays in the symphony orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio. Evgenia Baadjieva-Dimova is an assistant and viola leader of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Kristiana Alipieva Mikhailova is principal cellist assistant in the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. Yavor Dobrev is the clarinet leader at the Sofia Opera and Ballet, while Mikhail Mikhailov serves as the principal French horn player for the Sofia Philharmonic. ClassicArt concerts are conceptual performances that incorporate music, spoken word, artistic lighting, and a unique title. Our main objective is to promote the growth and development of young Bulgarian musicians in our country. This innovative project, in which the ensemble showcases young and talented musicians, is called ‘Present meets Future’. Young musicians play a crucial role as mediators in the creation of a thriving musical art, which is an essential component of education for individuals and societies as a whole. Our country has a strong tradition of music education and a talented pool of personnel. However, the music job market is highly competitive, with many talented young musicians entering from Asia, Europe, and other regions. Therefore, ClassicArt values the trend of encouraging young performers in Bulgaria as it aligns with the priorities of world cultural programmes. Ensemble music-making is included in the examination programme of candidates in most of the world’s prestigious competitions for instrumentalists and renowned institutions for professional music education. This is done to better prepare adolescent musicians for success in their specialized field.