Learn more about Dr. Batchvarova

Madlen Batchvarova is a visionary conductor, pianist, vocalist, and music educator whose dynamic career spans nearly four decades and several continents. She currently serves as Professor of Music, Chair of the Department of Music, and Director of Choral Programs at Hanover College, Indiana’s oldest private liberal arts institution, renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to undergraduate education.

A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, Dr. Batchvarova brings a global and multilingual perspective to her work, uniting classical and multicultural traditions in both performance and pedagogy. Since joining Hanover College in 2001, she has transformed the choral program, conducting the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and teaching choral conducting, music history, voice, piano, and interdisciplinary arts seminars. Her rehearsals are celebrated for their clarity, passion, and deep cultural insight, inspiring students and singers of all backgrounds to achieve artistic excellence.

Dr. Batchvarova’s international reputation was established early in her career with her debut as conductor of the Plovdiv Academy Women’s Choir of Bulgaria, leading performances at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, the French Cultural Institute in Plovdiv, and the International Choral Festival in Preveza, Greece. She has since conducted and performed in prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Musikverein Golden Hall in Vienna, where she made her conducting debut in 2009 as part of the International Haydn Festival.

Her artistry and leadership were further honed as a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus under the legendary Maestro Robert Shaw. With these ensembles, Dr. Batchvarova participated in GRAMMY Award-winning recordings—such as Harmonium, The Bells, and The Planets—and performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. These experiences have deeply influenced her approach to choral performance and education, blending the highest artistic standards with a commitment to cultural diversity.

Dr. Batchvarova is widely recognized for her leadership within the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). She currently serves as the National Chair for World Musics and Cultures on the Repertoire and Resources Committee and has previously held roles as Chair of the Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives Committee for the ACDA Central (now Midwestern) Division, as well as the Indiana Choral Directors Association. She is a frequent presenter at national, divisional, and state ACDA conventions, where her sessions on world music repertoire and choral traditions are highly sought after.

Her impact extends beyond the United States, with guest conducting, adjudicating, and clinician engagements at festivals, honor choirs, and conferences in Canada, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Dr. Batchvarova is also an active adjudicator for the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA), ACDA, and Music in the Parks, and has served on juries for international competitions, including the International Choral Festivals in Greece and Bulgaria.

A dedicated scholar, Dr. Batchvarova is the author of the monograph Bulgarian Bucolics from the Pirin Region (Lambert Academic Publishing, UK), dedicated to renowned Bulgarian composer Ivan Spassov. Her research and articles have appeared in the Choral Journal, ACDA Resound, and Notations. She is a regular presenter at international conferences, focusing on multiculturalism, Bulgarian choral traditions, and contemporary music education practices.

In addition to her academic and conducting roles, Dr. Batchvarova is an accomplished pianist and chamber musician. She tours internationally collaborating with artists across genres and cultures. Her collaborations include the album Duetti Capricciosi, a piano-organ recording, and concert tours exploring sacred, folk, and Latin American repertoires.

Dr. Batchvarova’s professional affiliations include membership in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS/GRAMMYs), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), American Guild of Organists (AGO), College Music Society (CMS), and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. She also serves on the International Advisory Council of DEDICA: Revista de Educação e Humanidades, Spain.

Respected for her artistry, scholarship, and enduring commitment to cross-cultural education, Dr. Batchvarova exemplifies the transformative power of music and the global vision of Hanover College.

Education

B.M., M.M. Plovdiv Academy for Music & Dance Art

M.M., Georgia State University

D.M.A., University of Alabama