Bulgaria Public Service Media BNR staged a special concert as part of this year's anniversary celebrations that culminated in an award for outstanding achievement.

The Grand Prix award for 'overall contribution to the development of radio' was presented to BNR's Music Production and Ensembles Department at the annual Sirak Skitnik awards ceremony in the capital Sofia..    

The occasion - which coincided with BNR's 77th anniversary as a public broadcaster - was marked with a concert at Studio No. 1, the purpose built symphonic recording studio.

The award was accepted by conductor and composer Emil Tabakov, who is also the Department’s Director. Mr Tabakov expressed his gratitude to the public and BNR for their unwavering support.

"At a moment when many radio stations are under financial pressure to reduce their outgoings, BNR’s efforts to preserve the cultural and musical legacy of the Bulgarian people has never been more important."

European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Director General Ingrid Deltenre extended congratulations to BNR, which has been a full member of the EBU since 1993. "This is a moment of great achievement for BNR.  We hope their experience provides encouragement to orchestral groups elsewhere."

The BNR has six musical ensembles – the Symphony Orchestra, the Folk Music Orchestra, the Mixed Choir, the Children’s choir, the Big Band and the Radio Kids Vocal Group. Along with the performances of classical music, folklore and jazz music, they constantly work with new and young composers, instrumentalists and singers, contributing to the development of a contemporary musical culture in Bulgaria and abroad.

The Sirak Skitnik awards were founded in 2001 and pay homage to the founder and first Director of Bulgarian Radio, Panayot Todorov the renowned poet, artist and reviewer who went by the name of Sirak Skitnik.