Ana Borisova
A folk singer from Dryanovo and senior assistant professor in the methodology of teaching folk singing at St Cyril and St Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo.
She has been singing since the age of nine. She studied in Pleven, sang with “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices”, teaches in Veliko Tarnovo and leads a children’s class in Dryanovo. In 2024 she released the nine songs from a music notebook she was given in 2000.
The path
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1985
Born in Dryanovo
Born in March 1985 in the town the songs she is most bound to also come from.
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2000
The notebook
Svetla Todorova, a piano teacher at the Razvitie 1869 community centre in Dryanovo, gives her a music notebook of Dryanovo songs written down in 1978. “I am certain the songs are in safe hands and that one day they will be sung!”
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2003
The Panayot Pipkov music school, Pleven
She graduates in folk singing, having won prizes at many national folklore competitions.
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2003 - 2006
“The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices”
A member of the folk choir under Professor Dora Hristova. She also sings with the vocal group Aqua-Delia under Professor Delyana Micheva.
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2006
The first album, “Svyata obich”
In these years she performs in Japan, Italy, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
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2008
Bachelor’s degree in Veliko Tarnovo
Music Education at St Cyril and St Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, with a master’s degree in the same subject in 2010.
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2009
Teacher
In February she is appointed assistant professor of folk singing at the University of Veliko Tarnovo, Faculty of Education, Department of Music. In September she takes over the newly formed folk singing class at the St Kliment Ohridski school in Suhindol, set up with the help of the mayor of Suhindol, Plamen Chernev, and the head teacher, Ivaylo Otchev.
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2012
A second master’s degree and an award for culture
A master’s degree in Performing Arts at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, in the class of Professor Svetla Stanilova. In October she receives the award of the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo for a personal contribution to cultural life.
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2013
The Anna-FolkArt Association
On 23 January she is elected chair of the newly founded association in Veliko Tarnovo, which works with children in folk singing, music and dance.
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2015
Doctor of the methodology of music education
On 23 February she defends her doctoral thesis, “Stages in mastering ornamentation in folk singing education”. In December the collection “Severnyashki slavei, part I. Folk songs with piano accompaniment”, which she compiled, is published and presented with a concert by students of the universities of Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia (NBU), Blagoevgrad, the folk arts schools of Kotel and Shiroka Laka, the 144th school in Sofia and the Lyubomir Pipkov music school in Sofia.
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2016
Senior assistant professor and a Fulbright grant
On 20 February she is granted the academic post of senior assistant professor. On 6 July she is approved by Fulbright for teaching and research in Seattle, USA, in the 2017/2018 academic year. On her return she writes a paper on the grandmother’s role in a child’s life: From grandparents to grandchildren: On the issue of cross-generational cultural transmission and the enculturational process.
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2018
The association moves to Dryanovo
The Anna-FolkArt Association moves to Dryanovo, where in partnership with the municipality she leads a class in Bulgarian folk singing. From 2013 to 2025 it takes children and adults; since 2025 only children from the second to the seventh grade, by her own “Singing Mirror” model.
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2019 - 2024
Her two children
She raises her two children while continuing to perform, to teach and to do research.
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2024
“Dryanovki murafetliyki”
Her second solo album, recorded together with the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Laka. Nominated album of 2024 by Bulgarian National Radio. Twenty-four years after the notebook.
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2025
The recital “Nishan” and a concert in Newcastle
On 16 April, a recital at the Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and the Constituent Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo. In June, a solo folk concert at St James’ church in Newcastle, in the United Kingdom.
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2026
“A bridge between the generations”
Master teacher at the forum “A bridge between generations: the song bridge of Elena”, Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, Plovdiv. In 2025 and 2026 she runs a research experiment in three kindergartens in the Gabrovo and Veliko Tarnovo regions, on which she is preparing her habilitation thesis, and works on a research project with Northumbria University, UK.
Awards and honours
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2012
Award for a personal contribution to the cultural life of Veliko Tarnovo
Given by the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and St Cyril and St Methodius University in October 2012, to mark an anniversary of the Balkan War.
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2024
Nominated album of the year by Bulgarian National Radio
“Dryanovki murafetliyki” was nominated album of 2024 by Bulgarian National Radio.
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2018
Certificate from the World Musical Cultures seminar, Seattle, Washington
The seminar is led by Professor Patricia Campbell, an ethnomusicologist and music educator at the University of Washington in Seattle.
From the archive
On stage to this day
Concerts, television, recitals and a class with children, all in the same month.
Invite Ana Borisova
Ana Borisova sings with an orchestra, with a small instrumental group or with piano alone. Write and tell us what you have in mind.