New Paths
Support the Eighth Edition of the Off the Beaten Path Chamber Music Festival
July 29 – August 8, 2026
July 29
Dimitar Blagoev 1925 Community Center, Dobrinishte
July 30
Bishopric of Nevrokop, Gotse Delchev
July 31 – August 2
Svetlina Community Center, Kovachevitsa
August 6
Nauka 1870 Community Center, Troyan
August 7 – 8
Hristo Karpachev Community Center, Karpachevo
In 2026, the Off the Beaten Path Chamber Music Festival will continue bringing new music to new venues around Bulgaria, starting at our festival home Kovachevitsa, and expanding our programs to other picturesquedestinations – Gotse Delchev, Dobrinishte, Karpachevo and, for the first time, Troyan in North-Central Bulgaria.
This summer, we will commission and premiere new works by composers David Ludwig (USA), Penka Kouneva (Bulgaria / USA) and Peter Kerkelov (Bulgaria). In addition, we will establish a residency program in Kovachevitsa for emerging composers, who will have a chance to work with Mr. Ludwig (Dean and Acting Chair of Composition at The Juilliard School in New York), Ms. Kouneva (a renowned Hollywood composer) and Mr. Kerkelov (Associate Professor at the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music in Sofia).
We will continue collaborating with the renowned Bulgarian-British composer Dobrinka Tabakova by presenting her works in new venues. Our guest artists will include the distinguished musicians Bella Hristova (violin), Hyunah Yu (soprano), Mark Sparks (flute) and Karin Dornbusch (clarinet).
COMMISSIONS 2026
David Lidwig (USA)
Chamber work for soprano and piano trio dedicated to the historic rescue of Bulgaria’s Jews in World War II.
Penka Kouneva (Bulgaria / USA)
Piano Quintet on Traditional Bulgarian Themes
Peter Kerkelov (Bulgaria)
New Multidisciplinary Work for Two Violins and Chamber Ensemble
RESIDENCY FOR COMPOSERS
The Eighth Edition of the Festival will offer an opportunity for five young composition students from Bulgaria to spend a week in Kovachevitsa in the company of the Festival’s musicians and guest composers, and to participate in discussions, workshops, and master classes, while attending the festival concerts and events. Participants will have a chance of getting to know our artists closely and developing ideas for future collaborations.
SINGING HEARTS VOCAL CAMP
In the summer of 2026, we will be again organizing the Singing Hearts music camp for children, led by Mariana Karpatova, in the town of Gotse Delchev. The program will include concerts at the Gotse Delchev Park, the town's retirement home, and other community outreach opportunities.
A portion of our ticket sales supports environmental and educational causes in collaboration with local and international organizations, such as European Festival Forrest, Gorata.bg and Teach for Bulgaria
Your support is greatly appreciated!
YOU will make all of these initiatives possible as we continue building our programs and expanding our reach in small towns throughout Bulgaria.
If you are in the United States and would like to donate by check or via bank transfer, please email us at neopathbg@gmail.com
All donations made in the USA to our nonprofit 501 (c) (3) Friends of the Off the Beaten Path, Inc. are tax-deductible.