Dessislava Stefanova

Dessislava Stefanova is a Bulgarian soprano singer and folk choir director. She was named Bulgarian Woman of the Year[1] (Българка на годината)[2][3] 2017.

Born in Stara Zagora,[4] by age six Stefanova was training in western classical music, and singing with children's folk music and dance ensemble Zagorche. On moving to Sofia to study linguistics at Sofia University, she was offered a place in the Filip Kutev National Folk Music and Dance Ensemble, and sang professionally with them for three years, until she moved to the United Kingdom in 2000. She subsequently gained a master's degree in music at London's School of Oriental and African Studies and completed Estill Voice Training to level 3.[5]

She is a featured soloist on films including Troy, Brothers Grim, The Virgin Queen and Borat, and on the games Halo 4[6] and Halo 5. She presented the Radio 3 documentary Bulgaria's Voice.[7] She has performed with Balkan Beat Box.[5]

Stefanova formed the London Bulgarian Choir in 2000, winning BBC Radio 3's Open Choir of the Year in 2006.[8] She has led the choir to record three albums, on three tours of Bulgaria, and through collaborations with British Sea Power, Doves, the Turbans, Avshalom Caspi at the BBC Electric Proms[9] and Nigel Kennedy.[10]

She has been leading the Swiss Bulgarian Choir since 2011,[11] and leads workshops in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. Ethnomusicologist Caroline Bithell describes her skills: "In addition to the repertoire itself and an intimate knowledge of the cultural context of the songs she introduces, one of the most valuable things Dessi has to offer is at the level of vocal technique and timbre as she guides her students through a series of exercises designed to bring them closer to the Bulgarian sound."[5]

References
  1. Stanchev, Zhivko. "Desislava Stefanova, Bulgarian of the Year of State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad: Let's not feel voiceless!". Radio Bulgaria. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  2. Димитрова, Мая. "Създателката на Лондонския български хор е отличена за "Българка на годината"". Новини БНТ (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  3. Каркаланова, Елена (19 April 2018). "Да не се чувстваме безгласни, прикани Десислава Стефанова – Българка на годината на ДАБЧ". Radio Bulgaria (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. "Welcome to the London Bulgarian Choir – About Dessi". londonbulgarianchoir.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. Bithell, Caroline (3 September 2014). A Different Voice, A Different Song : Reclaiming Community through the Natural Voice and World Song. Oxford University Press. p. 98. ISBN 9780199354542.
  6. Halo 4 Original Soundtrack (booklet). Neil Davidge. 7Hz Productions. 2012. ASIN B0090SVDFY.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "BBC – Radio 3 – Feature – Bulgaria's Voice". BBC. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  8. "Choir of the Year 2016". choiroftheyear.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  9. "BBC – Electric Proms – Doves". BBC. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  10. "Nigel Kennedy, classical music review: Fiddles at dawn in fiery opener". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  11. "Swiss Bulgarian Choir | with Dessislava Stefanova | Dessi". www.swissbulgarianchoir.ch. Retrieved 23 April 2018.

Dessislava Stefanova on IMDb

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