Vanya Moneva is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Bulgarian choral art. She is a conductor who has established herself with her unique style, musical aesthetics, and high professionalism. It is no coincidence that composer Prof. Krasimir Kyurkchiyski says about her: “Vanya Moneva is the Bulgarian Karajan in a dress”.

She works intensively with Bulgarian composers, challenging and inspiring them with her creative energy and deep knowledge in the field of choral conducting. Her artistic inclination towards Bulgarian folklore crystallized in 1994 with the creation of the female folk choir “Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria”, later renamed “Vanya Moneva Choir”.

She confirms her established position with innovative thinking, demonstrating how a female folk choir can be treated as a brilliant instrument. She builds a repertoire policy that showcases the hidden potential of folk voices and leads them to different genre dimensions, thus establishing her own professional trademark.

Prior to her life’s project – the choir bearing her name “Vanya Moneva” – Vanya Moneva was the chief artistic director and conductor of “Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria”, “Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices”, the Bulgarian National Radio Female Folk Choir, the “Aleko Konstantinov” Representative Mixed Choir, the Sofia Girls’ Choir, the “Petko Staynov” Representative Mixed Choir, and the Choral School in Kazanlak, as well as a number of other choral groups in Sofia, Lom, and Stara Zagora.

Vanya Moneva, PhD, is a long-standing music producer at the Bulgarian National Radio and a lecturer at the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in the Folklore specialties of Vocal Chamber Ensembles, Folklore Choir, Vocal Methodology, and Conducting a Folklore Choir.
She is a recipient of numerous prestigious music awards, including:

– Honorary Sign of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria – Distinguished Bulgarian Cultural and Art Figure – 2024;
– Crystal Necklace of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Figures (UBMDF) /2024 and 2019/;
– German Music Critics Award for 2022 with “Whispered Garden” – Jun Miyake;
– Golden Lyre of the UBMDF /2019/;
– First prize in the open category at the International Choir Competition “Let the People Sing” of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), 2015;
– “Follower of the National Awakeners” for exceptional contribution to upholding Bulgarian spirituality and choral art – Supreme Community Center Council of the Union of People’s Community Centers in Bulgaria /2015/;
– “The Heart of Sofia” Award /2014/;
– Musician of the Year for 2014 in the “Allegro Vivace” ranking of the Bulgarian National Radio;
– “Crystal Lyre” /2014/ from UBMDF FM Radio Classic;
– “Golden Book” for contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture /2011/;
– “Golden Staff” from the Union of Bulgarian Composers /2005/;
– ECHO Award of the German music producers for the CD “Bulgarian Soul” with Veselina Katsarova /2003/, and others.

Vanya Moneva’s creative activities include hundreds of concerts in Bulgaria, Europe, Asia, North and South America, Russia, Moldova, participation in prestigious international music festivals in Bulgaria, Europe and the world, as well as dozens of significant national and international projects. Vanya Moneva is one of the 100 inspiring women included in the publication for the 100th anniversary of ZONTA INTERNATIONAL.