site.btaBulgarian School Folk Group Wins Top Award at Winter Traditions Festival in Moldova

The folklore group of the Vasil Levski Bulgarian Theoretical Lyceum in Chisinau won first place at the Festival of Winter Traditions of Moldova, an event for children's folk acts. The 27th edition of the festival involved 14 groups from educational establishments in the Chisinau district of Riscanovca.

The ensemble of the Vasil Levski Lyceum, comprising students of first to eighth grade, performed authentic songs from the Taraclia area in Southern Moldova, which is home to a community of Bessarabian Bulgarians, said the leader of the group, Kiril Kirilov, who has been posted by the Education and Science Ministry in Sofia.

Kirilov said the Vasil Levski Lyceum is the only educational establishment in the Moldovan capital where Bulgarian is a subject of intensive learning. The Lyceum ensemble won the honour amid strong competition in a multicultural environment. It advanced to a city-level festival, where competition will be even tougher.

The festival is organized by the education department of the Chisinau city government. It has been held since 1992 with the aim of raising children to love the customs and the traditions of their ancestors.