August 12-15, 2026
Villa Verka invites you to workshops and concerts with songs from Bela Rechka!
In memory of Maria Goranova
Maria Goranova was the soul of the house that is now Villa Verka. We just celebrated 110 years of her birth.
Born on November 10, 1915, Maria Goranova was known as one of the best singers in Gorna Bela Rechka. Her voice echoed through the hills and meadows during every task—haymaking, grazing animals, grape harvesting—and everyone knew it was Maria.
This continued until September 23, 1966, when she received the news that her eldest son had died in a workplace accident while working in the Plakalnica mine.
She never sang again.
We never heard “Uina Marikya”( aunt Marikya, as we told her, her husband Boris and our grandmother Vanka have been brother and sister) sing, but her smile, her hospitality, and her love for our family whenever we visited Bela Rechka left a lasting impression on us.
Since 2006, the house of Maria and Boris Goranov has been our home – since 2024 it has been called “Villa Verka”.
We want to express our immense gratitude that we live in and inherit this beautiful house through songs – and we invite you to sing along with us – her favorite songs, as well as the songs we have collected, brought, and learned in Bela Rechka over the years.
Program
The workshops and concerts are open to everyone and are free of charge.
Registration for the workshops is required by email: igalinaji@gmail.com
August 12–15, 2026
August 12, Wednesday
Workshop at Villa Verka
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Songs of Milevka and Todorka – learning with original recordings
August 13, Thursday
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Songs in the mountains
11:30-13:00
Songs of Milevka and Todorka. Workshop at Villa Verka
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Rehearsal for the first small concert. Villa Verka
7:00 p.m.
CONCERT AT VILLA VERKA
Friday, August 14
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Songs in the mountains
11:30 – 13.00
Songs about the Bell of Bela Rechka. Bell workshop
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Rehearsal for “Songs for the Bell.” Villa Verka
8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Concert at the Bell
August 15, Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Songs of the Bell – small morning concert
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Songs from Bela Rechka – workshop at Villa Verka
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Rehearsal and improvisations
8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Concert in the village square
