Bulgarika is a unique folklore band playing traditional music from all the Bulgarian regions. Nikolay Kolev and Donka Koleva have invited two extraordinary musicians to join them for the 2025 tour: Stoyan Kostov on tambura and Anton Shekerjiev on tupan and kaba gaida. 

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Donka Koleva (vocals) is a native of the village of Tuzha in the Stara Zagora region of Thrace. She graduated from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, and performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. She was director of the Folk Song Chorus of Sopot, has been a featured soloist on Bulgarian Radio-TV, has participated in numerous singing competitions in Bulgaria and Europe, and has been featured on numerous recordings. In 1997, her recording of Javore was named “Song of the Year” in the Bulgarian national radio competition. Since immigrating to the U.S., she has taught and performed widely across North America, both privately and at numerous camps, festivals, and other events. In addition to her vocal talents, Donka serves as Bulgarika’s manager and has organized 12 national tours for the bands Kabile’, Cherven Traktor, Bulgarika, and the Kolev Family Ensemble. 

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Nikolay (Kotata) Kolev (gadulka), a native of the Thracian Rose Valley village of Karavelovo, has been playing gadulka since age 10. After graduating from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, he performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. In 1984, he founded the orchestra “Sopot”. In 1985, he formed the wedding-music ensemble “Rozova Dolina” and in 1992 the prize-winning ensemble “Balkanski Glasove”. In 1994 and 1995, the latter group took first prizes at the Varna Festival. Nikolay has accompanied many well-known singers, including Vulkana Stojanova, Roumen Rodopski, and Todor Kozhuharov. He has also taught many students at a number of Balkan camps in the U.S. In 1999, Nikolay was the first Bulgarian to be recognized by the Slavic Heritage Council of America for his outstanding contributions to music. 

 

Stoyan (Pileto) Kostov has been playing the Bulgarian tambura for over 50 years. He graduated from the folk music school in Kotel and the Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance. Stoyan performed with Ensemble Trakiya and played tambura with Harmanliska Troika, as well as guitar with the Ograzhden ensemble in Sandanski, where he also directed the “N. Vaptsarov” Folk Ensemble. Currently, he lives in Phoenix, AZ. 

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Anton (Shekera) Shekerdjiev developed a deep appreciation for traditional music from a young age. Born into a family of musicians in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, his father's performances at weddings in the Thracian Valley instilled in him a profound understanding of the region's vibrant musical culture. He formed a Balkan music band with fellow Bulgarian musicians, brothers Hristevi, in Spain, touring extensively throughout the Iberian Peninsula. He relocated to the United States, where he formed the band Kyklo with an American musician deeply inspired by Balkan music. He is honored to be touring with Bulgarika.