Prof. Marin Chonev, President & Chief Conductor of "Morski Zvutsi"
Marin Chonev is the founder and chief conductor 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.

Dr. William Dehning, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California
Dr. William Dehning retired in 2007 after fifteen years as Chairman of Choral Music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he conducted the USC Chamber Choir and taught choral conducting in a department of 15 -20 resident graduate students. For twenty years prior to his appointment to USC, Dehning was Director of Choirs at the University of the Pacific, where he was recipient of the university's Distinguished Professor Award. Under his leadership, the Thornton Chamber Choir won seven prizes in international European competitions, including Grand Prizes in Varna, Bulgaria and Tours, France. During his tenure, the ensemble also appeared to standing ovations at ACDA conventions six times, including nationals in 2001 and 2005. He is the author of the increasingly popular book, Chorus Confidential. He is past president and one of four founding members of the National Collegiate Choral Organization.

Dehning has attained an enviable reputation as one of the more clear, evocative, versatile, and musical of today’s choral conductors, as well as a master teacher. He is known on three continents for the profound sense of balance and integrity he brings to the craft, the student and the musical score. For further information please visit: williamdehning.com

Danail Rachev, Music Director of the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Oregon and Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Danail Rachev graduated the State Musical Academy in Sofia with degrees in orchestral and choral conducting, and the Peabody Conservatory, on a full scholarship, in 2001. He studied under Gustav Meier, Michael Tilson Thomas, Vassil Kazandjiev, David Zinman, and Leonard Slatkin. In 2002-03 Rachev was the first ever Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony where he studied with Michael Tilson Thomas and worked alongside him on many occasions. His debut and numerous subsequent appearances were met with consistent critical acclaim. Rachev was Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra from 2005-2008 where he led numerous public concerts and education programs. During the 08-09 season, he conducted the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Radio Symphony, Orquestra Nacional do Porto and Nashville Symphony. Rachev was recently appointed as the Music Director of the Eugene Symphony Orchestra. The search committee chose Rachev from 300 applicants. His 09-10 season with Eugene include a cycle of the Beethoven Piano Concerti. For further information please visit: www.intermusica.co.uk/rachev

Dr. Kathleen Sasnett, Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera, Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College
Kathleen Sasnett directs Opera Workshop, Sunderman Opera Studio, and teaches applied voice. A former Miss Washington, and top ten finalist in the Miss America Pageant, Kathleen has a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Vocal Performance and has performed leading operatic roles in America, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. As a Seattle Opera Young Artist, Kathleen performed over 15 roles in three years to standing ovations, including Liu, Rosalinda, Vitellia, Butterfly, Maddalena, Leonora, and Isolde. Equally at home in musical theatre, Kathleen has performed over 16 leading roles, including Maria in The Sound of Music, Lili in Carnival!, Marian in The Music Man, Fiona in Brigadoon, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha where she “completely submerged herself into the character”.

Dr. Tina Milhorn Stallard, Assistant Professor of Voice, School of Music, University of South Carolina
Active as a concert artist, soprano Tina Milhorn Stallard has performed solos in works such as Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, Haydn's The Creation, Bach's St. John Passion, Poulenc's Gloria and Handel's Messiah. She has performed with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Johnson City Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, Bowling Green Western Symphony and the University of Arkansas Orchestra. As part of the cultural prelude to the 2008 Summer Olympics, Stallard performed the soprano solos in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and members of the Beijing National Ballet Orchestra. She has sung with Opera Omaha, Central City Opera, Opera Theatre of Lucca (Italy), Cincinnati Opera, Kentucky Opera and the Palmetto Opera. Most recently, she recorded Gabriel, a new chamber opera by Robert J. Bradshaw. A frequent recitalist, Stallard has presented programs in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New York, Indiana, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee and throughout South Carolina. Dr. Stallard is Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of South Carolina, where she teaches applied voice and vocal pedagogy. For further information please visit: www.tinamilhornstallard.com