“Vanya Moneva” Choir

The Vanya Moneva Choir is a Bulgarian women’s vocal ensemble founded in 1994 under the name Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria. Between 2009 and 2014 it performed as Cosmic Voices before adopting the name of its founder and conductor. Its work extends from arranged Bulgarian folk music to contemporary concert, film and cross-genre projects. Composers associated with the ensemble include Krasimir Kyurkchiyski, Petar Lyondev and Yulia Tsenova, who wrote Swan Song for it. In 2014 the choir participated in Milcho Leviev’s album A Journey to Two Worlds with the Bulgarian National Radio Big Band. Later recording projects included the Japanese anthem presented at the 2016 Rio Olympic closing ceremony and John Powell’s score for Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018. Named for the conductor who founded it and directs it, the Vanya Moneva Choir has carried Bulgarian choral music abroad. Its repertoire runs from the arranged folk song that made Bulgarian voices famous to Orthodox chant and new writing by living composers. The sound — close intervals, an open chest tone, almost no vibrato — is the one international audiences recognise at once. The choir is based in Sofia.