LOS ANGELES — Nov. 6, 2025 — The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Los Angeles presented a major cultural event featuring two cornerstone programs: the Fourth Bulgarian Awards for Art, Culture, Education, and Science, organized by the BgFACE Foundation, and the inaugural concert of Bulgarian Classical Concerts – LA, dedicated entirely to Bulgarian classical music.
Held at the Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, the evening brought together hundreds of distinguished guests from the Bulgarian and Jewish communities, members of the diplomatic corps, local government officials, artists, scholars, and supporters of Bulgarian culture from across the U.S. West Coast.
Bulgarian Awards for Art, Culture, Education, and Science
During the ceremony, organized in partnership between the BgFACE Foundation and the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles, honorees were recognized for exceptional contributions to Bulgarian culture, science, and education in the United States.
Category: Art
Bronislav (Broni) Likomanov, sculptor, painter, and animator, was honored for his work creating the monumental sculpture dedicated to the Bulgarian Alphabet, soon to be installed in Los Angeles as a symbol of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage.
Category: Science
Dr. Dimitar Arnaudov, Clinical Professor of Anaesthesiology and Head of the Neuro Anaesthesiology Division at the University of Southern California, was recognized for his professional achievements and his dedication to the Bulgarian community in Los Angeles.
Category: Education
The Bulgarian School of Seattle, led by founder and director Angela Husheva, received recognition for its commitment to teaching the Bulgarian language and preserving national identity among young Bulgarians in the United States.
Category: Culture
The Bulgarian Association in Nevada was honored for its pivotal role in preserving and promoting Bulgarian culture and inspiring future generations.
Special Awards
The Special Award of the President of the BgFACE Foundation was presented to internationally acclaimed actress and singer Irina Maleeva for her artistic achievements, philanthropy, and support of Bulgarian cultural initiatives in Los Angeles.
The Special Award of the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles was presented to Svetlin Todorov, CEO of Shelly US, for his support of Bulgarian cultural and business initiatives and his contributions to promoting Bulgaria in the United States.
As a gesture of appreciation for his leadership and long-standing support of Bulgarian cultural programs, Consul General Boyko Hristov received an honorary diploma and a bronze statuette — a miniature of the future monument to the Bulgarian Alphabet — from the BgFACE Foundation.
Bulgarian Classical Concerts – LA Debut Performance
The second half of the evening featured the debut concert of Bulgarian Classical Concerts – LA, marking the launch of a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting Bulgarian classical music to American audiences and fostering cultural exchange.
The program included three world premieres and several U.S. debuts showcasing contemporary Bulgarian composers. A highlight of the evening was the use of a historic violin from the “Violins of Hope” collection, originally belonging to Cantor Isaac Behar — one of 48,000 Bulgarian Jews saved during World War II. The violin was performed by Blagomira Lipari, whose moving interpretation symbolized Bulgarian-Jewish friendship.
The night concluded with a performance by actress, singer, and producer Irina Maleeva, who presented two pieces from her original show “Illusions,” created with Broadway director Randy Johnson. Additional performances featured the works of Irina Chirkova and Penka Kouneva, accompanied by world-class musicians including Moni Simeonov, Blagomira Lipari, Boryana Popova, Ariana Solotoff, Clara Cheng, Michele Brourman, Janice Levy, and Carter Williams.
The event will air nationally on Jewish Life Television (JLTV), which reaches 50 million viewers across the United States and Canada. JLTV will produce a special feature dedicated to Bulgarian culture, highlighting both the awards and the concert.
