Bulgarian Choir "Maghiya"
Our choir was started out of love and continues to spread love through music and visual performances. The children and adults who attend the weekly rehearsals are united by the magical power of the unique ethnic sound of Bulgarian songs and compositions. It is our mission to not only preserve, but also popularise our traditional music among other communities, using modern remixes and accompaniments. We are more than singers, we are performers who use their individual talents, skills and strengths to create a perfect story told through music and movement.
When: Saturdays (term time), 1.00-2.00pm
Where: Trinity Church Sutton, 2 Hill Road, SM1 1DZ
Autumn term: 12 Sep - 12 Dec 2026
Spring term: 16 Jan - 27 March 2026
Summer term: 17 Apr - 26 June 2026
What we do at rehearsals
Every Saturday we have sessions for children aged 6-18. We do vocal exercises to expand our vocal range and improve our natural singing abilities.
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The main part of our rehearsal focuses on learning and practising songs from the 7 ethnographic regions of Bulgaria. They all have a very different sound, dialect and difficulty. Oftentimes, we go for modernised pieces to make our rehearsals and ultimately, the performances more fun for the children and our audience. This is when fabulous ideas are born! The choir teacher lets the singers tap into their own creativity and bring suggestions on choreography, props, vocal arrangement and the overall experience we create for the audience.
Each time we meet, we learn how to be more confident, more aware and more in love with the stage. We work on posture, presence, appearance, movement and everything else that makes a performer great. ​
Award-Winning Performers
Choir "Maghiya" has proudly represented Creative Heritage at local, national and international competitions and festivals, receiving numerous awards for outstanding performances. Our young singers have achieved success at events including the Sutton Music Festival, the annual singing contest organised by Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, Over the Rainbow Festival, and many more.​​​
But my child doesn't speak Bulgarian...
That's not a problem!
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Many of our members join with little or no knowledge of the Bulgarian language—including children from mixed-heritage families and those with no Bulgarian background. We provide song translations and easy-to-follow phonetic lyrics, making the music accessible to everyone.
In fact, several children who do not speak Bulgarian have gone on to perform confidently with the choir at festivals and competitions, winning awards alongside their fellow singers.
Music has a wonderful way of bringing people together, whatever language we speak.
Whether you're discovering Bulgarian folklore for the first time or already have a connection to the culture, Maghiya welcomes anyone with a love of singing, creativity and performance.
Termly Contribution
The termly contribution for Bulgarian Choir "Maghiya" is £70 per member, with a 50% discount for siblings or adult family members.
As we are a volunteer-led community organisation, these contributions are not for profit. They support rehearsal venue hire, learning resources, printing, rewards and materials, as well as competition entry fees where applicable.
They also help us invest in one of the choir's most special features—our traditional Bulgarian costumes. Authentic folk costumes are an important part of preserving and showcasing Bulgarian cultural heritage, and they are significantly more expensive than standard performance costumes. By contributing towards their purchase and upkeep, our members help ensure the choir can continue representing Bulgarian folklore with authenticity and pride at concerts, festivals and competitions.