BIG BAND OF THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL RADIO

In 2025 The Bulgarian National Radio celebrated its 90-th birthday and 65 years since the formation of the big band. Antony Dontchev took up the baton in 2010 when the 50 years jubilee of the orchestra was celebrated.
Some of the most known Bulgarian instrumentalists are playing in the band. As special guests were invited a series of Bulgarian and world known jazz musicians as Milcho Leviev, Christo Jotzov, Joe Lovano, Tom Harrell, Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Conrad Herwig and many others.

The big band realizes recordings for the fund of the Bulgarian National Radio: especially created or arranged for the band works; jazz standards; different projects connected with world music, funk, pop and rock.
In 2017 the orchestra won the insignia of honour ’’Golden Coin’’ for contribution to the development of the Bulgarian Culture.

Antony Dontchev is a musician, who copes with ease with different forms of musicianship, combining without problems the variety of stylistics of jazz, folk and classical music in all their aspects. With his name are connected numerous prestigious appearances of Bulgarian jazz in the last 20 years. He is co-founder of the formation ’’ Acoustic Version ’’, who won the big prize at the Hoeilaart competition in Belgium in 1985.

Antony Dontchev realizes projects with world known musicians like Tommy Smith, Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling and others. He has recordings together with the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio; composes film and theatrical music; his music was released by companies like: BMG, BALKANTON, SONY MUSIC, POLYSOUND, KUKER MUSIC and others. Antony Dontchev is winner of many awards. Since 2010 he is head – conductor of the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio.

At his invitation, the soloist this year will be Orlin Pavlov.