SREDETS

Bulgarian Folk Music Ensemble

Experience the majestic sounds of Bulgarian Rhodope bagpipe and singer,

Bulgarian wedding music, and the fast energetic traditional music of Bulgaria.

Maria Bebelekova -- vocals

Vassil Bebelekov -- gaida/kaba gaida

Jordan Iliev -- clarinet

Mitko Tonchev -- accordion

Petur Iliev -- tupan

The SREDETS Bulgarian Folk Music Ensemble is composed of World-renowned Bulgarian musicians. Vassil Bebelekov and Petur Iliev have always attracted large audiences in California and elsewhere with their extraordinary music and dance. Maria Bebelekova specializes in songs from the southern Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria, accompanied by Vassil Bebelekov on the deep-pitched bagpipe called kaba gaida. Jordan Iliev will be playing on clarinet the wedding music for which SREDETS is acclaimed in Bulgaria. This is a unique opportunity to experience some of the richest music of the World.

SREDETS plays everything from vibrant wedding music that gets you on your feet to emotional slow table songs that will make you cry. The SREDETS Bulgarian Folk Music Ensemble promises virtuoso performances of popular wedding melodies, dance songs, and instrumental tunes in Bulgaria's famous additive meters.

The five members of SREDETS each grew up with the village traditions that give Bulgarian folk music its excitement and spontaneity. Strong Bulgarian musical heritages combined with superb musicianship make SREDETS an awesome ensemble.

Maria Bebelekova -- was born in the Rhodope town of Shiroka Luka in Southern Bulgaria where she learned singing from her mother and grandmother. At the age of seven she first sang on Bulgarian National Television. After graduation from the most prestigious folk music schools in Bulgaria, Maria began in 1984 to teach Bulgarian folk singing for many years at the famous Shiroka Luka Folk Music School. She also sang with the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices for three seasons, and has made many recordings.

Vassil Bebelekov -- born in the Rhodope mountain town of Devin, was inspired to a life of folk music by the village traditions and by his grandfather who played the kaba gaida (bagpipe). Vassil joined his first bagpipe ensemble at age 11 and went on to complete his education at the Shiroka Luka Folk Music School and the Plovdiv Folklore Conservatory. He played with several professional ensembles in Bulgaria, taught many years at the Shirola Luka Music School, and has performed Worldwide.

Jordan Iliev -- was born and raised in a family of musicians, in the village of Gabra, near Sofia, Bulgaria. Jordan's first instrument was kaval (end-blown flute), and then at the age of eleven he switched to accordion. After mastering the accordion Jordan choose the clarinet, which he has been playing ever since. He gained his popularity playing weddings, and as the director of SREDETS he has recorded four albums, which include many of his original compositions.

Mitko Tonchev -- is from a Thracian village near Haskovo, Bulgaria. He started accordion when he was 1O years old, inspired by playing music with his grandmother who was a singer and his father who was an extremely good kaval (end-blown flute) player. He went on to play accordion for two years with the World-famous Ivo Papazov and then with the famous PIRVOMAJSKATA GROUPA for seven years. Since then he has been the principal accompanist with the renowned Thracian ENSEMBLE ZAGORE in Stara Zagora, where he has accompanied many of Bulgaria's most famous singers.

Petur Iliev -- is from the Shope village of Gabra near Sofia Bulgaria. He grew up in a family that is very involved in Bulgarian folk music and dance, and started playing tupan (folk drum) as a young child. He played in the Gabra village music ensemble with his father's dance company, and went on to play in the professional KOUTEV and PHILIPOPOLIS ensembles. Besides being a master on the tupan, Petur continues the tradition of his village as a noted choreographer and Bulgarian dance instructor.

The artists of SREDETS are available for private and group lessons. Don't let the opportunity slip by to receive instruction by one of Bulgaria's finest musicians. You can learn more in one hour through careful observation than a year of listening to tapes!