Janeta Benun
Pianist and accompanist · 2009–2022
Pianist and accompanist
Pianist of the “Morski Zvutsi” Choir
Zhaneta Benun
Pianist · Choirmaster · Répétiteur
2009 - 2022
Three choirs, one opera stage and half a century at the piano. Zhaneta Benun-Nikolaeva is one of the people whose work holds together a great part of the musical life of Varna.
Ruse
The Beginning
Zhaneta Benun-Nikolaeva was born into a Jewish family in Ruse. She graduated from the music high school in her home town in the piano class of Hachik Mihranyan, and in 1974 from the Sofia Conservatory under Prof. Lili Atanasova.
That same year she became a laureate of the “Sv. Obretenov” National Competition in Provadia.
She worked as a piano teacher at the Music High School in Ruse. Many of her students went on to become laureates of national and international competitions. Today they are piano teachers, performing musicians and répétiteurs.
The Choirs
From 1978 to 1988 she was pianist and choirmaster of the “Dunavski Zvutsi” Mixed Choir in Ruse. From 1995 to 2005 she held the same position with the “Lidia Dushek” Mixed Choir in Varna.
From 2009 to 2022 she was the pianist of the “Morski Zvutsi” Mixed Choir at the “Prof. Marin Chonev” Choral School, Varna Municipality.
All three ensembles have won numerous awards at Bulgarian and international competitions.
The Opera
Varna State Opera
Zhaneta Benun has been associated with the Varna State Opera since 1988 as a répétiteur. Her name appears in the production teams of dozens of the theatre’s stagings, and as a pianist she has taken part in numerous chamber and gala concerts alongside the opera’s soloists.
She has worked as a répétiteur and teacher of musical interpretation in vocal masterclasses led by Prof. Margarita Lilova, Kaludi Kaludov, Ventsi Katsarov and others.
Toda Raba
Born into a Jewish family from Ruse, Zhaneta Benun took part in the concert “Toda Raba”, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews.
On 1 December 2021, the Varna State Opera marked her 70th birthday with the chamber concert “Zhaneta Benun at 70”, part of the Christmas Music Festival.
Timeline
The Journey
Graduates from the Sofia Conservatory under Prof. Lili Atanasova and becomes a laureate of the “Sv. Obretenov” National Competition, Provadia.
Pianist and choirmaster of the “Dunavski Zvutsi” Mixed Choir, Ruse.
The beginning of her long collaboration with the Varna State Opera.
Pianist and choirmaster of the “Lidia Dushek” Mixed Choir, Varna.
Pianist of the “Morski Zvutsi” Mixed Choir.
Jubilee chamber concert “Zhaneta Benun at 70” at the Varna State Opera.
Sources
- Zhaneta Benun: To Love, to Be Loved and to Play, interview by Violeta Toncheva, Impressio (in Bulgarian)
- Toda Raba, Festival and Congress Centre, Varna (in Bulgarian)
- Varna Joins the “Bulgaria Sings” Initiative, Varna Municipality (in Bulgarian)
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