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"Vasil Arnaoudov" Sofia Chamber Choir has been spreading the song and musical glory of Bulgaria throughout the world for almost 50 years now. It was founded back in 1966 by a group of singers from another famous Bulgarian choir called "Bodra Smyana." Conducted by Prof. Arnaoudov, Sofia Chamber Choir has won dozens of awards at international competitions, recorded several LPs and performed hundreds of premieres of new choral works by Bulgarian composers, the majority of them having been composed especially for it. After Prof. Vasil Arnaoudov died in 1991, Prof. Theodora Pavlovich, whose life has been associated with choral singing from early childhood, took the baton.
     Sofia Chamber Choir has recently visited Athens and Simona Peneva is talking with Prof. Theodora Pavlovich.
      You travel a lot and perform in concerts abroad. What does the Bulgarian audience give you?
      Sofia Chamber Choir performs in concerts in almost all European countries, and I myself conduct concerts of various choirs not only in Europe but also in many countries in Asia, the US, Israel and more. The Bulgarian audience loves us but we have serious "fans" in many other countries as well, for example Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, and already in Greece, after our successful participation in several international festivals in recent years.
     How often do you tour in Greece?
     My first tour in Greece was back in 1978. I was a very young singer in the same Sofia Chamber Choir, which I conduct at present and the tour was precisely in Athens! Therefore, I am very happy to be again on stage in Athens, but as a conductor. The choir is constantly becoming younger, due to the young singers naturally, both my students and other girls with experience in choral art. We performed at various festivals here when Prof. Arnaoudov conducted the choir and this is my fifth visit here as a conductor. We had great success twice on the island of Corfu in 2007 and 2011, twice in the beautiful hall of Aristotle University in 2005 and in April this year, but it was a great pleasure for us to sing for the audience of Athens!
     What usually impresses you in Athens the most?
     Athens is wonderful for its history but also for its modern dynamic spirit and I am glad to have the opportunity to be here again, even if only for two days. It will be a great pleasure to come back to visit some of my most favourite places again, namely the Acropolis, the Museum of Byzantine and Christian Art, the National Archaeological Museum and many more places that I am unable to visit this time. Did I mention that my favourite reading as a child was the book "Ancient Greek Legends and Myths?" I knew all the myths and stories by heart. And Athens is a sacred place for me!
     What did you perform to the audience in Athens?
     We performed two concerts, the first being of Bulgarian music alone. It took place in the presence of the mayor of Kifissia, politicians and Her Excellency, Mrs. Emilia Kraleva - Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Greece, and it was a great success. Our second festival performance featured modern and very popular European and American music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Bernstein and other composers.

     Leading a choir surely requires great responsibility and focus. Is that right? What is the hardest part of your job?
     Yes, that is right. The conductor's job is one of the most complex types of human activities because it requires a huge amount of knowledge in various fields, the ability to work with people, leadership and other skills. The hardest part of our job during the current global economic crisis is to motivate people to continue to love singing and devote some of their free time to this activity, namely to sing in the choir. On the other hand, the professional singers for whom singing is a job must be motivated with a very high level of the artistic production. Then they give their best.
     Do you like the occupation of conductor the most?
     This is one of the most important activities in my life. However, I actually work with this choir for pleasure whereas my professional commitments involve many different positions. I am the conductor of the professional choir of Classic FM Radio - Bulgaria, which was established on the basis of Sofia Chamber Choir and the members of which have significantly increased in number. In recent years, along with the choir and orchestra of Classic FM Radio, we have performed in concerts with world famous musicians such as great Italian composer Ennio Morricone, Andrea Bocelli and many other world stars. I love both the choirs with which I work in Bulgaria.
     What would wish our readers?
     I want to wish everyone to preserve their natural love for music and I believe that it is one of the greatest creations of God! Furthermore, music can heal! This is important in today's fast-paced life full of stress! I want more people to return to singing, whether in a choir or alone, the important thing is to want to sing and to do it with pleasure! People will become better, healthier and happier in this way and the world will become a more pleasant place to live!