Choirs in Pop & Rock – 2025

MUNICIPALITY OF SVILENGRAD
THE JEUNESSE MUSICALE FOUNDATION
BULGARIAN CHOIR UNION
SVILENGRAD CHOIR SCHOOL

Third festival for pop and rock music in choral arrangements

7-9.11.2025

Regulations | Application

S T A T U S – 2025

The Third Festival of Pop and Rock Music in Choir Arrangements will be held from November 7 to 9, 2025.

The festival is organized by the Municipality of Svilengrad, the Musical Youth Foundation, the Bulgarian Choral Union and the Svilengrad Choir School

The festival aims to:
• cultural exchange, creating contacts and cooperation between choirs from the country and abroad;
• creating conditions for the development and support of existing choirs;
• expanding their opportunities for performance and enriching their creative potential;

The festival is not competitive.

REGULATIONS

1. Mixed and homogeneous choirs of amateur singers (this does not apply to artistic directors) from Bulgaria and abroad are entitled to participate in the Festival.

2. The number of participants in each choir should not exceed 40 people (including a conductor, pianist and driver).

3. The program of the Third Festival "Choirs in Pop and Rock" includes:

a) Official opening and concert
b) Concerts of the Festival participants – November 7 to 9;
c) Workshops with conductors and choirs on previously announced topics.

Main stage City Cultural Center "Prosveta 1870"

*Note: The participation of the choir groups in the concerts and events of the Festival is mandatory.

4. Requirements for the choirs:

a) the choirs present a free concert program with a repertoire of their choice and a duration of 15 to 20 minutes;
b) within the framework of the event, workshops and seminars are held - conversations with the participants and guests of the Festival on current issues concerning choral art in the country and Europe and its trends in its development. They will be announced later;
c) the participants in the Festival receive a diploma of participation and promotional materials.
The organizers retain their rights over the audio and video recordings made during the festival;
d) it is desirable for the choirs to stay during the entire duration of the Festival;

5. If the choirs so wish, the organizers offer a program with a visit to cultural and historical monuments and landmarks in Svilengrad and the region.

APPLICATION

6. The choirs apply for participation in the Third Festival "Choirs in Pop and Rock" through an application form electronically from the website: https://jmfbg.org/bg/jmf-proekti/
(With this application, the choirs declare their agreement with the terms and conditions of the Festival organizers.)

7. Together with the application for participation, the choirs send:
– current audio or video recordings (links to web pages or YouTube can be provided) with performances of the ensemble over the past 2 years;
– a brief description of the ensemble and conductor and color photos in JPG format of the conductor and choir.

8. After receiving the applications and the materials accompanying them, the organizers make a selection and respond to the applicant choirs.

FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONDITIONS

9. The organizers offer preferential prices, provided by the Municipality of Svilengrad, under the following conditions:
– assistance with accommodation, or accommodation in a hotel for two nights with breakfast and dinner.
– participants who wish to be accommodated for more nights (outside the festival) must declare their stay, which will be offered to them at preferential prices;

10. The costs of travel and accommodation of the groups to the city of Svilengrad and back during the Festival are at the expense of the participants at preferential prices, which will be announced additionally, no later than the end of September.

11. The organizers reserve the right to select and determine the number of participating choirs according to their financial capabilities.

12. Participants in all groups arriving in the city of Svilengrad must be insured for the duration of the Festival. The choir leaders are responsible for observing the Festival program, for the members of their groups, for good relations with other groups, both on an artistic and organizational level.

13. The organizers are responsible for the overall implementation of the Festival “Choirs in Pop and Rock” – administration, accommodation, concert performances, advertising, diplomas, accompanying activities and their expenses.

14. The organizers own all rights to the performances during the Festival, advertising activities, broadcasting of the concert programs through various private, national and public media, publishing audio, video and other materials for non-commercial purposes and their circulation in Bulgaria and have no obligations for this activity to the participating groups. For this purpose, the leaders of the groups sign a declaration provided to them by the organizers.

15. The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the program of the Third Festival “Choirs in Pop and Rock” in the event of force majeure and other circumstances beyond the control of the planned activities.

16. Within the framework of the Third Festival "Choirs in Pop and Rock", workshops will be held with choirs on topics related to the interpretation of choral arrangements of pop and rock music and with conductors on topics related to the organization of meetings, festivals and other similar events. The leaders of these workshops will be determined by the Board of the Bulgarian Choir and the Musical Youth Foundation by the end of September.

Contact Info:
https://jmfbg.org/bg/jmf-proekti/
contact@jmfbg.org

Artistic Director:
Kiril Tarpov
GSM: +359877693137
e-mail: kiriltarpov@gmail.com
web: www.jmfbg.org

Bank account for sending accommodation funds:
UniCredit Bulbank AD Bank
BGN. IBAN: BG75UNCR70001525314990;
BIC: UNCRBGSF
Tagholder: Jeunesse Musicale Foundation
UIK / BULSTAT: 825283222
Reason for transfer: Accommodation funds + participant's name

Upcoming editions of the Festival:
2027 – 05. – 07. November