Again in Vienna

The children's and youth philharmony «Pioneer» - again in Vienna

The children’s and youth philharmonic «Pioneer» is preparing to visit Vienna, invited to take part in the tour «Back to Vienna». We need support to cover travel expenses, a hotel for 55 children and young people, the daily cost of two days, the cost of renting some of the musical instruments and the cost of burning a CD. The recording of one of the concerts will include some wonderful and rarely performed works with the participation of the Pioneer Orchestra. This is an exceptional opportunity to promote Bulgarian culture and music abroad. The program of the concerts will include two world premieres of contemporary composers. The event is organized by the Austrian Association for Culture and Art «Purple Swan». The name «Pioneer» was given to the orchestra by the Italian Music Society after the brilliant concerts held in Italy in the 1960s, as the first orchestra of its kind. On December 10, 1979 - impressed by the harmony and professionalism of the orchestra, the great composer Leonard Bernstein wrote: «This is not a pioneer orchestra. This is the top of civilization!». The project is under the patronage of the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament Wolfgang Sobotka. An interesting highlight of the program is the three-hour seminar organized with the participation of the great Austrian composer Kurt Schmid and the boys and girls from the Pioneer Philharmonic. It is an honor for us as an organizer to be able to invite the Pioneer Orchestra to the Austrian stage again (after his visits to Vienna in 1959 and 1973) and we need additional financial support to make this cultural exchange possible. We have various gratitude donations for certain levels, but any amount you can contribute will help. The «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1952 by the famous Bulgarian conductor professor Vladi Simeonov. The orchestra comprised young and talented Bulgarian children between the age of 9 and 18. It was the first and only youth orchestra in the world at that time. The first public appearance of the orchestra took place in Sofia in 1954. The first international appearance was in Moscow in 1957 at the VIth World Youth Festival. Since then the orchestra participated in numerous concerts and tours in Bulgaria and abroad and created itself an excellent reputation. The young musicians have played in Belgium and Austria (1959), Yugoslavia (1963), Germany (1959, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1970), West Berlin, Brazil (1968 and 1984), Italy (1960, 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1970), Switzerland (1972), Austria, Scotland, USA, Mexico, France, the UK, and other countries. The orchestra participated with big success and won first place at four International Festivals of Youth Orchestras and Performing Arts in Switzerland (1972), Austria (1973), England and Scotland (1974), and Italy (1982). The name «Pioneer» was given to the orchestra by the Italian music society after the brilliant concerts held in Italy, as the first orchestra of its kind. Maestro Vladi Simeonov and the «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra won the respect and admiration of two of the most famous conductors of our time – Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein. The «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra is the winner of the Extraordinary Prize of the «Herbert von Karajan» competition in 1974 in West Berlin, Honorary Diploma for exceptional artistic achievements, and Golden medal. Before the concerts in the United Nations Hall in 1979, while listening to the orchestra, Leonard Bernstein expressed the desire to conduct it. After conducting a rehearsal with the orchestra Leonard Bernstein wrote: «This is not a Pioneer orchestra – this is the height of civilization». The concerts of the orchestra were broadcasted and recorded by numerous foreign radio and television channels. 48 National televisions purchased the rights for casting the concerts in the United Nations’ Hall and the rehearsal with Leonard Bernstein. The world musical critic describes Maestro Simeonov as «a phenomenal conductor, who creates miracles with his magical baton» and defines the orchestra as a «miracle». R. di Banfield, a member of the International Jury of the «Herbert von Karajan» competition wrote: «Together with my colleagues …. I was stunned ……. a nation having such youth can only have great future.» Prof. Allendorf, Chairman of the «Karajan» Foundation said: «I find this orchestra extraordinary and phenomenal …. It should be an example for entire musical and pedagogical education!» R. Swartz, conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra: There is only one category the Pioneer Symphony Orchestra – superb! The orchestra should travel around the world so as to show what they can do.» The Secretary-General of the International Festival on Aberdeen, Scotland exclaimed: «We are proud of this orchestra! Bulgaria is happy to have it!» After the death of prof. Vladi Simeonov in 1990 the conductors of the orchestra were Maestro Georgi Dimitrov, Maestro Konstantin Patronev, and Maestro Grigor Palikarov. The orchestra stopped its activities in 2003. With the intention to restore the glory of the orchestra in November 2006 a few of its former musicians created the «Prof. Vladi Simeonov» Foundation. The aim of the foundation is to keep alive the memory of Maestro Vladi Simeonov and to support in their development of young people who show talent. After a 5 year interruption, the «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra was re-established in 2008. In the effort to bring the orchestra back on the world’s stages, the «Prof. Vladi Simeonov» Foundation makes its best to attract young and talented musicians and ensure enough concert activity. The Foundation enjoys the support of the Director National Palace of Children and financial donors. During 2008-2009 conductor of the orchestra was Maestro Boris Spassov, conductor at the Sofia Opera and Ballet. In the period 1st to 13th August 2009 the «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra participated in the 20th edition of the European Festival of Youth Orchestras Eurochestires in France, region Charente-Maritime near Bordeaux. The orchestra participated in the opening and closing concerts of the festival and performed four independent concerts with great success. Since 2010 Conductor of the Pioneer Philharmonic Orchestra is the young and talented Bulgarian musician, conductor and composer Maestro Lybomir Denev Junior. Presently the orchestra performs annual concerts in the framework of the festival «Sofia Music Weeks». Several successive years the orchestra has participated in the Festival «Varna Summer» with its own concerts and also as the bulk of the Balkan Symphony Orchestra created with the support of the «Prof. Vladi Simeonov» Foundation, which includes young musicians from Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Greece. On 27th August 2016, the «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra performed with great success a concert in Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin in the framework of the Festival Young Euro Classic. The organizers have selected 5 out of the 21 concerts of the Festival which were recorded by Deutschlandradio Kultur. On 30th August 2016 г. at 8 p.m. the Deutschlandradio Kultur presented a long and impressive broadcast about the concert of the «Pioneer» Philharmonic Orchestra. On September 16th, 2016 Maestro Lyubomir Denev Junior received a special letter of gratitude by the General Manager of Young Euro Classic Dr. Gabriele Minz. The «Pionner» Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded with the prize «Crystal Lira» in the category «Orchestras» for 2016. This prize is annually awarded in different categories by the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers. On June 30th, 2018, the «Pioneer Philharmonic Orchestra performed in a concert in Sofia together with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the framework of the «Side by side» initiative.

My project is special because ...

The program of the concerts includes two world premieres by contemporary composers. Another interesting highlight of the program is the organized three-hour seminar with the participation of the great Austrian composer Kurt Schmid and the «Pionier» orchestra. Recording of a CD from the concerts in Vienna and live stream.

This is what I need backing for.

So we ask for your help to cover the costs for «Pionier»: this includes the coverage of travel expenses, hotel for 55 children and young people, the loan of some musical instruments and the cost of recording a debut CD which will contain truly wonderful works that are rarely performed and recorded live.