Director of Choral Programs - Madlen Batchvarova
Dr. Madlen Batchvarova
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Choral Programs
Dr. Madlen Batchvarova is a successful conductor, pianist, singer, music educator, clinician and adjudicator. Currently she is an Associate Professor of Music, and the Director of Choral Programs at Hanover College, Indiana. There she conducts the Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers. She also teaches conducting, a large private voice studio, and music history. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Madlen Batchvarova holds a BM and MM in music education in piano performance and solfege from the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv, a MM in choral conducting from Georgia State University. Dr. Batchvarova completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Alabama where she studied with Dr. Sandra Willetts.
Dr. Batchvarova made her debut as a conductor with the Plovdiv Academy Women's Choir of Bulgaria. She has conducted the ensemble in concerts in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria, the French Cultural Institute in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as well as the International Choral Festival in Preveza, Greece.
Madlen Batchvarova is also an accomplished pianist. Some highlights of her accompanying career include the First Prize in the Competition for Czech and Slovak Music in Varna, Bulgaria, leading to concert engagements at the Bulgarian Cultural Institutes in Prague, Czech Republic, and Bratislava, Slovakia. During the Hanover College's Community Artist Series in 2003 she performed along with pianist Kimm Hollis in a "Music for Two Pianos" concert. Recently she and the organist Dr. David Lamb launched a new piano-organ duet, "Kontrasti" that performs frequently around the state.
Since her arrival in the United States in 1995, Dr. Batchvarova has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Chamber Chorus under the direction of Maestro Robert Shaw. Some highlights of her participation with the ensemble include a Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance in 1998, Carnegie Hall appearances with Bach's Mass in B minor, and Brahms' Requiem, and participation at the Opening Ceremonies of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.
In addition to her demanding teaching and performing schedule Dr. Batchvarova maintains an active international career. Among her resent accomplishments are conducting appearances, workshops, scholarly presentations and publications at the University of Granada, Spain, Academy for Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, and the Thracian University in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Dr. Batchvarova is a regular presenter of interest and reading sessions at the Indiana State and Division conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. She also serves as a historical/performance practice consultant for choirs and other musical organizations around the country.
Madlen Batchvarova is in demand as a guest clinician and conductor. In recent year she has conducted honor and all-state choirs in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Bulgaria. Dr. Batchvarova is also active as an adjudicator for regional and state solo and choral competitions. She was a member of the jury at the International Choral Festival in Preveza, Greece, and adjudicated the ACDA Student Conducting Competition at the 2007 National Convention.
Dr. Batchvarova is a voting member of the National Academy for Recording Arts and Sciences, the Indiana Choral Directors Association's executive board as the Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives Chair, MENC, American Guild of Organists, College Music Society, and the Phi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Her biography is included in the almanacs "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who of American Women," and "Who's Who in World's Professionals."
Office: Center for Fine Arts, Room 134
Telephone: 812-866-7327
E-mail: batchvarova@hanover.edu
Read more about Dr. Batchvarova at: Roundabout Article #1 | Roundabout Article #2