Name: Bulgarika concert and dance party
Start: 2025-09-17T19:00:00-04:00
Location: St. Matthias & Church of the Messiah

After 2 years Bulgarika returns to Baltimore!!!
This time co-sponsored with InnerspaceTango of Baltimore.
There will be a short tango presentation, then the Bulgarika concert, and then Bulgarian line dancing to Bulgarika.

Starts 7pm Wednesday, September 17, at Church of the Messiah.
Suggested donation \$15 - $20 which goes to the Bulgarika band after expenses.
The church of the Messiah is at the corner of Harford Ave. and White Ave.
The entrance to the church parking lot is off of White Ave. The entrance to the church social room from the parking lot at the northeast corner of the church.
For more information contact:
Michael Gage and Sandy Cherin ([email protected], 585-944-7436)
David Richardson(innerspacetango [email protected])
Tom Zeller (IFD Baltimore at Church of the Nativity [email protected])
or the web pages at https://www.innerspacetangofest.com/

Youtube links:

Folkdancing with Bulgarika 2019:

Folkdancing with Bulgarika 2019 (fast):

Bulgarika concert 2023

———————————————————————————————————————
BULGARIKA Bulgarian Folk Band
Bulgarika is a unique folklore band playing traditional music from all the Bulgarian regions. Nikolay Kolev and Donka Koleva have invited two extraordinary musicians to join them for the 2025 tour: Stoyan Kostov on tambura and Anton Shekerjiev on tupan and kaba gaida.
Donka Koleva (vocals) is a native of the village of Tuzha in the Stara Zagora region of Thrace. She graduated from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, and performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. She was director of the Folk Song Chorus of Sopot, has been a featured soloist on Bulgarian Radio-TV, has participated in numerous singing competitions in Bulgaria and Europe and has been featured on numerous recordings. In 1997 her recording of Javore was named “Song of the Year” in the Bulgarian national radio competition. Since immigrating to the U.S. she has taught and performed widely across N. America, both privately and at numerous camps, festivals and other events. In addition to her vocal talents Donka serves as Bulgarika’s manager and has organized 12 national tours for the bands Kabile’, Cherven Traktor, Bulgarika and the Kolev Family Ensemble.
Nikolay (Kotata) Kolev (gadulka) a native of the Thracian Rose Valley village of Karavelovo, has been playing gadulka since age 10. After graduating from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, he performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. In 1984 he founded the orchestra “Sopot”. In 1985 he formed the wedding-music ensemble “Rozova Dolina” and in 1992 the prize-winning ensemble “Balkanski Glasove”. In 1994 and 1995 the latter group took first prizes at the Varna Festival. Nikolay has accompanied many well-known singers including Vulkana Stojanova, Roumen Rodopski and Todor Kozhuharov. He has also taught many students at a number of Balkan camps in the U.S. In 1999, Nikolay was the first Bulgarian to be recognized by the Slavic Heritage Council of America for his outstanding contributions to music.
Stoyan (Pileto) Kostov has been playing Bulgarian tambura for over 50 years. He graduated from the folk music school in Kotel and the Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance. Stoyan performed with Ensemble Trakiya and played tambura with Harmanliska Troika, and guitar with the Ograzhden ensemble in Sandanski, where he also directed the “N. Vaptsarov” Folk Ensemble. Currently he lives in Phoenix, AZ.
Anton (Shekera) Shekerdjiev developed a deep appreciation for traditional music from a young age. Born into a family of musicians in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, his father's performances at weddings in the Thracian Valley instilled in him a profound understanding of the region's vibrant musical culture. He formed a Balkan music band with fellow Bulgarian musicians brothers Hristevi in Spain, touring extensively throughout the Iberian Peninsula. He relocated to the United States, where he formed the band Kyklo with an American musician deeply inspired by Balkan music. He is honored to be touring with Bulgarika.