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MANOLOV INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

The biannual MANOLOV International Competition is held in two categories: Piano and Violin. The  2024 contest is open to instrumentalists of all nationalities in three age groups: A (ages 7 - 10), B (ages 11 - 14) and C (ages 15-18) as of the day of the Final Round (May 11th, 2024). Participants are required to perform contrasting pieces from different periods of the Classical Music and are encouraged, but not required to perform a work by a Bulgarian Composer. Those who exhibit the highest level of professionalism, interpretation and precision will be awarded cash prizes, future carrier engagements and the title of ‘Prize Winner’.

EMANUIL MANOLOV

1.7.1860 - 11.2.1902

Gabrovo - Bulgaria

Composer, Conductor

Pedagogue, Public Figure

Emanuil Manolov was among the first Bulgarian professional composers, author of the first Bulgarian opera Siromahkinya (1900, unfinished), based on urban romance tunes and the Italian classical opera tradition. His works were intended for the Bulgarian both professional and amateur ensembles. The non-professional orchestra in Kazanlak was incomplete and his scores for symphony orchestra took this fact into consideration. Manolov wrote mainly choral songs. Great part of his works collected in the series Nightingale Woods were children’s and school songs. His most popular songs like Kakva moma vidiah, mamo (What a Maid I Saw, Mother) or the cycles Mama Ivanchu dumashe (Ivan’s Mother Spoke to Him) and Povei, povei, buyni vetre (Blow, Blow, Wind) were collected in the music series Sounds. He composed cycles of songs for mixed choir; medleys for mixed choir and piano; church music; marches; children’s and school songs; pieces for wind orchestra; chamber pieces; a quartet; 5 solo songs; 3 duets, etc.

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