European Union Youth Orchestra in Sofia
For the first concert of EUYO in Sofia on 22-d of March 2008 Ivailo Kalfin - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Bulgaria, Member of the Honour Committee of the 'The European Union Youth Orchestra address a greeting:
'It is my privilege to welcome you to the 'The European Union Youth Orchestra first concert ever on Bulgarian stage.
A meeting place of young musicians, world renowned conductors and above all, of the musical gems of Europe, this orchestra is a unique epitome of Europe’s major values – collaboration and humanism.
Thirty years after the Orchestra was founded it now also features Bulgarian musicians and the Vardar Rhapsody is on its repertoire - one of the emblematic Bulgarian works by the country’s most outstanding composer of that generation of artists in Bulgarian musical culture who were inspired by our folk tradition. This art work is indeed the emanation of Bulgaria’s unique musical talent and patriot. Pancho Vladigerov could have easily become citizen of any country in the world but he chose to remain Bulgarian. The Vardar Rhapsody, overwhelmingly Bulgarian in spirit, was composed abroad.
Bulgarian young musicians have long overcome the borders of this continent but by working in the Youth Orchestra with their peers from all 27 member-states they will now have the opportunity to draw a different line of distinction – one very beautiful line at that – by presenting the most treasured works of Bulgaria’s cultural identity.
I would like to give them my heartiest wishes for success. May each of them bear a part of the unforgettable Vladigerov and in their art take his mission forward by preserving the unique Bulgarian tradition as an equal part of this world.'