HISTORY

The Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD) is a trade-union and creative non-profit organisation. It rallies performers, pedagogues, conductors, musicologists, ballet dancers and authors in the fields of folklore and jazz, who are organised in autonomous societies and associations by genres.
The UBMD is independent of political parties and organisations, and is guided solely by the will of its members through its Constitution and the Constitution and legislation enacted in this country.
The UBMD carries out its activities in accordance with the International Charter of Human Rights. The Union Is a legal entity seated in the city of Sofia with the requisite legal registration. It is the successor to and continuator of the democratic professional traditions in Bulgarian music culture and the Bulgarian Music Union founded in 1901 - the first trade-union and creative organisation of musicians in this country and one of the first of its kind in Europe. As a trade-union organisation, the Union represents and defends the rights and the interests of its members in the spheres of labour relations, the distribution of social funds, the standard of living and social security, and assists the realisation of their social and spiritual needs. As a creative organisation, the Union contributes to the development of the Bulgarian music culture and its heightened role in the spiritual life of society through individual programmes. The UBMD has always provided the guidelines for the development of the Bulgarian music and dance culture - both performing and pedagogic It has taken and is taking an active part as the initiator and organiser in all artistic events at the international, national and regional levels: international festival and competitions, national reviews of brass bands and symphony orchestras, national competitions for singers and instrumentalists, reviews of opera and operetta theatres, etc.
The Union implements a programme for raising the qualifications of its members by means of seminars and master's classes held by outstanding performers in the world.
A special programme was established for the assistance and realisation of young artistic figures.
The UMBD is the founder with Ministry of Culture and Classic FM Radio of the annual national prize, The Crystal Lyre, which is awarded for top achievements in the music performing and dance arts.
The Gold Lyre and The Silver Lyre prizes are awarded for career work.
The Union publishes a monthly magazine, Music Horizons.