The Clinicians

Marin Chonev, Bulgaria

Marin Chonev is the founder and leading choir-master of “Morski Zvutsi”, The Representative Varna Civic Chorus. He is a former lecturing professor in conducting at the Varna Open University, Varna Institute of Post Graduate Qualification for Teachers and the Plovdiv Conservatory. He is the founder and leading choir-master of the “Choir of Varna Boys” and “Young Men”. Professor Chonev regularly serves as a jury member at international choral competitions in a number of European countries. Chonev is also founder and president of the International Choral Competition in Varna, which is in the chain of five other European choral competitions: Tours, France; Debrecen, Hungary; Gorizia, Italy; Arezzo, Italy and Tolosa, Spain. He has been awarded the Honorable Citizen of the City of Varna award and a National Medal for Exceptional Achievements in the Sphere of Culture and Music, which is awarded by the President of Bulgaria.

Harold Rosenbaum, USA

Harold Rosenbaum (www.haroldrosenbaum.com) is one of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed choral conductors of our time. In recognition of his leadership in the interpretation and performance of contemporary music, G. Schirmer, Inc., the world's largest music publisher, has established its Harold Rosenbaum Choral Series, for which he composes, edits, and gives performance suggestions for conductors. A tireless proponent and advocate for contemporary composers and American composers in particular, he has created an annual choral composition competition, has commissioned twenty works, has conducted over 200 world premieres (including works by Ravel [in Paris], Schnittke, Henze, Berio, Perle, and Harbison), and has recorded contemporary choral music for SONY Classical, Albany, CRI, Bridge, Koch International, Capstone, and DRG.   To fulfill his dream of conducting the most complex and masterful choral compositions of the 20th century, Mr. Rosenbaum established The New York Virtuoso Singers (www.nyvirtuoso.org), an all-professional choir now in its 20th season. NYVS is regularly invited to perform with leading orchestras, and at prestigious institutions such as The Tanglewood Music Festival and The Juilliard School. It has premiered over 150 works. Prior to the formation of The New York Virtuoso Singers, Mr. Rosenbaum had already established (in 1973) his all-volunteer Canticum Novum Singers (www.canticumnovum.org), as one of New York region's premiere choirs presenting the music of all periods, with a special focus on early music.

Mr. Rosenbaum is a much sought after guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, funding panelist, coach, lecturer, consultant, and educator.   He has taught at four universities including The Juilliard School.  Currently he is Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo/SUNY, where he directs the choirs, heads the graduate program in choral conducting, and teaches other courses.

Throughout Europe Mr. Rosenbaum has conducted close to 100 concerts, working with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, L'Orchestre d'Europe, the New Prague Collegium, the Madeira Bach Festival Orchestra, and choirs from the USA and France.