With the awarding of the distinctions finished the Gala concert of the laureates of the ХV^th edition of the Boris Christoff International competition for young opera singers. Held in the jubilee year of the world-known bass, the competition singled out five winners and five laureates of honour diplomas. The prizes were awarded by the President of the International jury, the opera prima Alexandrina Milcheva. She, as well as the members of the jury Stefka Evstatieva, Alex Grigorev, Vladimir Gridyushko and Genko Geshev were honoured with the commemorative medal “100 Years Boris Christoff” by Dr. Momchil Georgiev, representative of the Ministry of Culture. Together with them, the distinction was awarded also to Elmira Darvarova, concert master of Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Professor Atanas Kurtev awarded Alexandrina Milcheva the prize “Great Teachers” of the Municipal Council in Kyustendil. The portrait of the great mezzo-soprano is already placed in the hall of the same name in the town. Prof. Plamen Dzhurov, President of the Boris Christoff International Competition for Young Opera Singers Foundation, thanked to the Ministry of Culture for the support by the holding of this edition of the competition and expressed the hope, that it would continue the great tradition of the Bulgarian vocal school. Alexandrina Milcheva expressed special thanks to Sofia Opera and Ballet, to Maestro Plamen Kartaloff and to the entire team of the theatre, which took part in the organization and the holding of the competition. The prima wished “Good luck” to all young performers.