Rooted Voices: Bulgaria
A Free Vocal Music Workshop with Tzvetanka Varimezova
Saturday, April 18 | 2:00 pm
The Cove
First United Methodist Church of San Diego, Mission Valley (campus map)
Free Ticket Reservation Required
Co-presented by the San Diego Master Chorale and the Center for World Music.
Rooted Voices is a collaborative series presented by San Diego Master Chorale and the Center for World Music, celebrating the power of traditional vocal music to connect us across cultures, generations, and lived experience.
The first program in the series, Rooted Voices: Bulgaria, features renowned Bulgarian folksinger Tzvetanka Varimezova in an immersive workshop exploring the distinctive sound, style, and spirit of Bulgarian vocal traditions. Participants will learn directly from a master artist through listening, call-and-response singing, and shared cultural context—no prior experience required.
About the Artist
Tzvetanka Varimezova is a renowned Bulgarian folkloric soprano, conductor, and educator, celebrated for her brilliant voice and deep knowledge of Bulgaria’s rich vocal traditions. Born into a musical family in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, she began singing and playing accordion at age nine and went on to master tambura (long-necked plucked lute) and piano.
Tzvetanka has performed and recorded internationally with Bulgaria’s top folk ensembles—including Trakija, Philip Koutev, and Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria—and has led choirs and workshops across Europe, Asia, and North America.
For two decades, Tzvetanka served as a professor in UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology, where she directed the Bulgarian women’s choir Superdevojche and inspired countless singers to explore the vibrant harmonies and ornamentation of Bulgarian folk music. She continues to teach and coach choirs around the world, sharing her passion for authentic vocal technique and cross-cultural connection.
Tzvetanka’s artistry has earned her numerous awards, including Bulgaria’s “Voice of the Year,” a National Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Badge of Honor for her impact on global folk music.
Video Links
May it Fill Your Soul, a film by CWM President Timothy Rice (Trailer)
Labyrinth Ontario Bulgarian Singing, by Ot Izvora Bulgarian Folk Music Choir
Tzvetanka Varimezova, Our Mentor and Muse, by NevenkaFolk
Tzvetanka Varimezova’s Wintersongs Offerings, by Kitka
