Violinist Micho Dimitrov became the winner of "Musician of the Year 2013" at a ceremony held on June 5 in Sofia. The award is an initiative of "Allegro Vivace" – the BNR radio show for lovers of classical music. Traditionally, nominations are determined by the listeners of the program. This year more than 5400 proposals from different parts of the world arrived in the newsroom. According to them, 8 musicians were nominated in different categories. "All nominees deserve this award because they are a constellation of great musicians" - Micho Dimitrov said. At the concert after the ceremony he performed two popular works: "Tzigane" by Ravel and "Sevdana" by Georgi Zlatev-Cherkin, with conductor of the Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Plamen Djurov.

"I performed in a more excited manner than I wished because it was amazing to receive the recognition and love of so many people who voted for you. Some of them are my colleagues with whom I shared the stage and this fact makes me feel pleasure and satisfaction. This is the biggest award for musicians in Bulgaria. It is very valuable because it is the voice of the audience. I am happy because my mission in life is to give love, beauty and light to people through what I do," - Micho Dimitrov said minutes after receiving the Musician of the Year Award.

The renowned Bulgarian violinist studied with Prof. Ifra Niemann in the Guildhall School of Music in London, and worked as a concertmaster of the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra. For more than 25 years he has been living in the Netherlands. Prof.Dimitrov often returns to his homeland and organizes master classes in Sofia and Plovdiv. Days after the award ceremony, on June 9, in the marble foyer of the BNR an exhibition of his paintings will be opened. This is a side of his talent that was previously unknown to the public. "For two and a half years I have been painting with great pleasure. Painting does not have limits and I feel completely free," Micho Dimitrov says.

Hall 6 of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia was full of audience for the concert that followed the Musician of the Year Awards. Young virtuoso Elin Kolev who won an award for his debut in Bulgaria in 2013 is actually not a debutant on the world stage. He was only twelve when he performed at the Carnegie Hall and the Western press described him as "a prodigy of European classical music." Elin was born into a family of violinists who have long been living in Germany. Elin Kolev thanked the audience for the love in Bulgarian.

An original project that carries children into the world of classical music, won the award for project of 2013. "Pillow Concerts” is a scene of magical adventures for children who listen to music, draw, and play, while learning about music instruments, composers and styles at the same time.

Beloved tenor and director Mario Nikolov who has recently become the director of the musical theater in the capital city was also awarded for his active creative activity. His colleagues at the Sofia Opera received the "Premiere of the Year" Award for staging "The Ring of the Nibelung" by Richard Wagner. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to choral conductor Veneta Vicheva.

The academic mixed chamber choir "Gaudeamus,” which was established eight years ago, won the "Ensemble of 2013" Award.

English: Alexander Markov