The 44th “Prof. Georgi Dimitrov” International Choral Competition concluded on September 12 with the Grand Prix final and an official awards ceremony, where the mixed choir “Kammerchor Manila” won the Grand Prix.

Varna hosted the 44th edition of the prestigious “Prof. Georgi Dimitrov” International Choral Competition from September 10 to 13 2026.
Three outstanding choirs qualified for the final round, with the mixed choir “Kammerchor Manila” (conductor: Anthony Go Villanueva) ultimately winning the top honor.

Chaired by Slavil Dimitrov (President of the Bulgarian Choral Union), the international jury for 2026—which included Prof. Leon Shiu-wai Tong (President of the World Association for Choral Performers – Children and Youth), Bernie Sherlock (founder and conductor of the internationally acclaimed chamber choir “New Dublin Voices,” former Artistic Director of the Irish Youth Choirs (2020–2025), and former co-conductor of “EuroChoir” (2021)), Naomi Faran (conductor and music director—founder of the Moran Choirs and their conductor since 1986) and Milena Dobreva (creator, leader, and conductor of the “Morski Pesachinki” Vocal Group and the “Fortissimo” Vocal Ensemble—winners of Grand Prix awards at international choral competitions and championships) announced the following official results:

CATEGORY: MIXED CHOIRS
• 1st place: KAMMERCHOR MANILA Mixed Choir (Conductor: Anthony Go
Villanueva)
• 3rd place: EUTERPE Mixed Choir (Conductor: Amalia Secretianu)

CATEGORY: EQUAL-VOICE CHOIRS
• 2nd place: ANGELI Choir (Conductor: David Florin Valentin)

CATEGORY: CHAMBER CHOIRS
• 1st place: OHANA Youth Chamber Choir (Conductor: Dimitar
Kostantzaliev)
• 2nd place: ANGELI Choir (Conductor: David Florin Valentin)

CATEGORY: CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH CHOIRS
• 1st place: GOOD HOPE School Choir (Conductor: Tang Hei Yan Melody)

SPECIAL AWARD
• Special Award for “Most Striking Stage Presence”: GOOD HOPE SCHOOL
CHOIR
• Special Award for “Best Performance of a Bulgarian Song by a Foreign
Choir”: KAMMERCHOR MANILA

• “Prof. Marin Chonev” Special Award for Conducting Excellence:
Conductor DIMITAR KOSTANTSALIEV