Miglena Tzenova
Education
1999 – 2002 – PhD in “Musicology and Musical Arts” (“Opera”), Institute of Art Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
1993 – 1998 – Master‘s degree in Choral Conducting, National Music Academy (NMA) „Prof. Pancho Vladigerov“, Theory, Composition and Conducting Faculty (TCCF), Sofia.
1993 – 1997 – Bachelor’s degree in Music Pedagogy, NMA “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”, TCCF.
1993 – 1995 – specialized course in “Composition”, NMA “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”, TCCF; 1995 – participation in the festival „New Bulgarian Music ‘95“ with two solo songs for bass and piano by Miglena Tzenova – „Strahat“ („The Fear“) and „Patechkata“ („The Path“), with piano accompaniment by M. Tzenova;
1993 – 1995 – specialized courses in elective subjects “Philosophy” and “Philosophy of Music”, National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” – Sofia, TCCF.
1980 – 1993 – majoring in Piano, Secondary Music School (currently: National School of Arts) “Panayot Pipkov” – Pleven.
Occupation
From 2002 to the present – Institute of Art Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Positions: “associate professor” (from 2011 to the present), “scientific/scholarly secretary” (2014 – 2016), “chief assistant” (2005 – 2011), “assistant” (2003 – 2005), “specialist” (until 2003).
From 1998 to the present – National School “Tsar Boris III – 1928”, Sofia. Positions: „teacher/tutor, music in interest activities“ (from 2017 to the present), „music teacher in extracurricular activities“ (2011 – 2017), „music teacher“ (2009 – 2011), „head of extracurricular activities (musical art)“ (from 2007 to 2009), „teacher in art schools“ (from 2002 to 2007).
Specializations and additional training
Dec. 2021 – Jan. 2022 – Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), N5. In Japanese: 日本語能力試験. Conducting organization: The Japan Foundation (JF), in Japanese: 国際交流基金. Venue: Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”;
June – Dec. 2021 – individual face-to-face training to prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), N5. Training organization: “Agora – Sofia”;
January 2021 – one-month distance group course to prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), N5. Training organization: “Agora – Sofia”;
2018 – 2021 – four-semester Japanese language training, according to the “みんのあにほんご” system. Training organization: “Agora – Sofia”;
Dec. 2009 – scholarship holder at the seminar: Let Me understand your language, within the framework of the Fourth Conference of the Worldwide Network of Confucius Institutes, Fourth Confucius Institutes Worldwide Conference, Beijing, China, organized by the headquarters of the Worldwide Network of Confucius Institutes, in English: Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters), in Chinese: 国家汉办 (孔子学院总部). The headquarters is located in Beijing;
Sept. 2006 – seminar Adult Training Methodology. Training organization: GOPA World consultants. Balkan Institute for Labor and Social Policy. Venue: Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria;
Sept. 2000 – international summer course with seminar Communicating Silence and Getting Funded – for developing and presenting interdisciplinary projects in science. Training organizations: Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research (FRN) and Training Center of BAS. Venue: Velingrad, Bulgaria;
2000 – Upper intermediate advanced course in English – three-month English course. Training organization: Training Center of BAS;
2000 – Computer literacy course (working with Excel, Power Point, Internet, etc.). Training organizations: Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – BAS.
Joined the Institute of Art Studies in
2002 (development of PhD dissertation – since 1999).
Major Publications
M. Tzenova (M. Tzenova-Nusheva) is the author of 111 publications and 4 completed unpublished monographic studies. Monographs and monographic works: 2 monographs, 1 monographic section in a collective monograph, 2 scientific monographs in co-authorship, 3 unpublished monographic works and 1 dissertation. Compiler of 2 collections of papers (from a "Art and Context" youth scientific conference) and 20 issues (12 in Bulgarian and 8 in English) of an electronic edition for operatic criticism ("A Platform for Arts", currently: “Art Platform”). Scientific studies: 12, of which 3 in refereed editions. Scientific articles: 50, of which 5 in refereed or indexed editions. Reviews: 17 published reviews of books, concerts, performances, lectures, etc. Popular science publications: 5.
Monographs:
Tzenova, M. Reception of Traditional Chinese Opera Performances in Bulgaria. Sofia: Institute of Art Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2024.
Tzenova-Nusheva, M. Peking Opera jing ju 京剧. Sofia: Amadeus Print, 2010.
Tzenova-Nusheva, M. Section IV. Musical, pp. 380 – 465. [Monographic section, 250 standard pages]. In: Biks, R., Yaneva, A., Karakostova, R. Tzenova-Nusheva, M., Zhunich. E. Bulgarian Musical Theatre. Opera, Ballet, Operetta, Musical. 1890 – 2010. Reviews, Reception, Comments. Sofia: Geya Libris – Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2015.
Biks, R., Yaneva, A., Karakostova, R., Tzenova-Nusheva, M. Bulgarian Musical Theatre. Opera, ballet, operetta, musical. 1890 – 2005. Conductors, directors, choreographers, scenographers, choirmasters. Sofia: Institute for Art Studies, BAS, 2008.
Biks, R., Yaneva, A., Karakostova, R., Tzenova, M. Bulgarian Musical Theatre. Opera, Ballet, Operetta, Musical. 1890 – 2001. Theatres, Troupes, Productions. Sofia: “Prof. Marin Drinov”, BAS, 2005.
Indexed and refereed studies:
Tzenova, M. Terms and Conceptions of the Reception Theories: Continuity in Japanese Scientific Research on Various Arts. – Art Studies Quarterly, 4, 2023, p. 4 – 13.\
Tzenova, M. First Opera Performances in Pleven in the 19th Century and their Reception. – Bulgarian Musicology], 2, 2023, p. 3 – 35.
Tzenova, M. The Nineteenth-century Music Life in Ruse in the Light of the Twentieth-century Staged Musical Events. – Bulgarian Musicology, 3, 2020, p. 3 – 18.
Indexed and refereed articles:
Tzenova, M. “The good listener” in Chinese treatises from the 3rd century BC to the 6th century AD: Analogies with musicological studies from the 20th and 21st centuries. – Diplomatic, economic and cultural relations between China and Central and Eastern European countries, Vol. 10, Issue 1, 2025, p. 332 – 342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62635/e20m-41×5.
Tzenova, M. First Peking Opera Jingju 京剧 performances in Bulgaria and their reception. In: Art Readings 2023. Metamorphoses. Vol 2. New Art. Sofia: Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2024, p. 92 – 100.
Tzenova, M. Nikolina Georgieva, Maia Bejanska, Petko Slavov and Their Contribution to the Reception of Traditional Japanese Theater in Bulgaria. In: Art Readings 2021. Personalia. Thematic Peer-reviewed Art Studies Annual. Vol. 2. New Art. Sofia: Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2022, p. 607 – 613.
Tzenova, M. Shinsaku Noh Performances in Bulgaria: Events that Contribute to the Multilayered Process of Reception of Japanese Traditional Theatre in Bulgaria. In: Art Readings 2020. Journeys. Thematic Peer-reviewed Art Studies Annual. Vol. 2. New Art. Sofia: Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2021, p. 468 – 474.
Tzenova-Nusheva, M. Japanese Traditional Theatre Performances in Bulgaria between 2012 and 2017: Collaborations with Bulgarian Pedagogues and Cultural Activists. In: Art Readings 2018. Art in Europe: Models and Identities. Thematic annual peer-reviewed edition in Art Studies. Vol. 2. New Art. Sofia: Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2019, p. 533 – 543.
Research projects
"Visibility and recognition of Vietnamese language, culture and society studies at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" (acronym: VRVLCSS). Funding institution: Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Contract: 80-10-187/06.06.2025. Deadline: September – November 2025, current project. Participant.
"A Platform for Arts – an electronic edition for operatic criticism by scholars and specialists in the field of art and cultural studies – continuation" (acronym: PA 3), a project of the Institute of Art Studies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Funding institution: National Fund "Culture" (NFC) under the Ministry of Culture (MC) of the Republic of Bulgaria (RB). Contract: No. 113-14/13.07.2017, NFC, MC. Term and deadline: June 2017 – May 2018. Project leader.
"A Platform for Arts" (acronym: PA 2), a project of the IAS – BAS for the continuation of the electronic edition for operatic criticism. Funding institution: NFC, MC. Contract: 104-18/17/05.2016, NFC, MC. Term and deadline: June 2016 – May 2017. Project leader.
"A Platform for Arts" (acronym: PI 1), a project of the IAS – BAS for the creation of an electronic edition for operatic criticism. Funding institution: NFC, MC. Contract: 96-19/05.06.2015, NFC, MC. Term and deadline: June 2015 – May 2016. Project leader. “Bulgarian Musical Theatre – Volume 4” (acronym: BMT 4). Funding institutions: NFC, MC and National Endowment Fund (NEF) “13 Centuries Bulgaria”. Two projects related to research work, digitization and publication of a book. Term and deadline: 2014 – 2015. Participant. “Peking Opera – from Myth to Modernity” (acronym: POMS). Project for preparation for printing, publishing and printing of a book. Funding institution: NFK, MK. Term and deadline: Sept. 2009 – May 2010. Project leader.
“Bulgarian Art Archives, Resources and Technologies of Research – 3” (acronym: BAARTR 3), interdisciplinary project of the IAS, BAS. Funding institution: Scientific Research Fund (SRF) under the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). Deadline: 2008.
"Bulgarian Musical Theatre, Volume 3" (acronym: BMT 3). Two projects for archiving materials and for publishing a book. Funding institutions: National Center (NC) "Music and Dance" under the Ministry of Education (contract No. RD 11-387/02.06.2008) and National Research Council under the Ministry of Education (contract No. 48 – 6/2007). Deadlines: 2008 and 2007 respectively. Participant.
Conferences
Between 1999 and 2025, M. Tzenova presented 47 reports at scientific forums – international, national and national with international participation, most of which were held in Bulgaria. She is a co-organizer of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Youth Scientific Conference "Art and Context"; voluntary co-organizer of 3 scientific and practical conferences "You Hear", aimed at integrating children, born deaf and successfully undergoing the process of cochlear implantation, into school and extracurricular activities.
Lecture courses at universities
"History of Musical Theater", lectures and exercises, master's program in the specialty "Musical and Stage Direction", Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMDFA) "Prof. Asen Diamandiev", Plovdiv.
Awards for scientific activities:
2025 – Award for musicological creativity “Book of the Year 2025” (for publications from 2024), in the category “Scientific Monograph” (“Musical Theater”) for the book: Tzenova, M. Reception of Traditional Chinese Opera Performances in Bulgaria (Sofia: IAS, BAS, 2024, 606 p.). Awarding organization: Union of Bulgarian Composers,“Musicologists” Section.
2016 – Special award for musicological creativity “Book of the Year 2016” – highest distinction for 2016. Awarding organization: Union of Bulgarian Composers,“Musicologists” Section. (for publications from 2015) for the monograph: Biks, R., Yaneva, A., Karakostova, R., Tzenova-Nusheva, M., Zhunich, E. Bulgarian Musical Ttheater. Opera, Ballet, Operetta, Musical. 1890 – 2010. Reviews, Reception, Comments (2015), built from monographic sections, author of Section IV. Musical: M. Tzenova.
2016 – Most significant scientific achievement of the Institute for the Study of Arts, BAS, for 2015: Biks, R., Yaneva, A., Karakostova, R., Tzenova-Nusheva, M., Zhunich, E. Bulgarian Musical Theater. Opera, Ballet, Operetta, Musical. 1890 – 2010. Reviews, Reception, Comments (2015, author of Section IV.: M. Tzenova-Nusheva.).
2016 – Most significant scientific and applied achievement of the Institute for the Study of Arts, BAS, for 2015: “A Platform for Arts” (currently: “Art Platform”), an ecelctronic edition operating criticism of the Institute for the Study of Arts, BAS (2016). Head of the “A Platform for Arts” (in the period 2015 – 2018): M. Tzenova-Nusheva. The award is related to the first in a series of one-year projects.
2011 – Award for musicological creativity “Book of the Year 2011” (for publications from 2010), in the category “Scientific Monograph” (“Musical Theater”) for the book: Tzenova-Nusheva, M. The Beijing Opera jing ju 京剧 (Sofia: Amadeus Print, 2010, 388 p.). Awarding organization: Union of Bulgarian Composers,“Musicologists” Section.
2006 – “Prof. Marin Drinov” Award for Young Scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “for significant achievements in musicology and for her research on the Bulgarian musical theater”.
Awards for creative musical activities:
2023 – “Best Short Film” award for the feature film “Chalk”, script and direction: Mariyan Gushev, music: Miglena Tzenova.
2023 – 2024 – several “Audience Award” awards and other prizes from international forums for the short animated film “Cornucopia”, script, animation and direction: Ani Antonova and Dimitar Ovcharov, music: Valeria Krachunova, soloist, vocals and vocal improvisations: Miglena Tzenova.
2012 – Third prize (a unique award) with OM Art Formation, vocals and vocal improvisations: M. Tzenova, from the international forum “Smolyan Jazz Fest”; the prize ensures participation in the international forum “Amman Jazz Fest”, Jordan (2013) and other international forums. 2004 – Third prize from the 35th Spring Competition for New Bulgarian Pop and Rock Songs 2004, organized by the Bulgarian National Radio (for authorship and performance of the song “Save Me from Love”).
2004 – First prize from the Bulgarian National Radio and the Dimitar Vachev Foundation for the best cover version of a song to music by Dimitar Valchev (for the song “Yes!”).
1987 – Second prize for the best performance of a work by a Polish composer (for a piano interpretation of a nocturne by Frederic Chopin), Secondary Music School (SMS, currently: National School of Arts, NSA) “Panayot Pipkov”, Pleven.
1986 – Third prize for the best performance of a work by an Italian composer (for an interpretation of the piano sonata by Domenico Cimarosa), SMS “Panayot Pipkov”, Pleven.
A number of other awards for pedagogical and creative activity from international and national competitions and festivals.
Main areas of scientific research
Asian traditional theater in Bulgaria; reception of Chinese traditional opera Shiqiu 戏曲 in Bulgaria; Beijing opera Jingju 京剧; Vietnamese traditional opera; reception of Japanese traditional theater in Bulgaria; musical and symbolic aspects in traditional Japanese theater Kabuki 歌舞伎; music in Chinese cinema; first performances and historical development of the genre "opera" in Bulgaria; first performances and historical development of the genre "musical" in Bulgaria; alternative approaches in music education (working with children and young people with Cochlear Implant Systems), etc.
Research related activities
Expert activity: reviews and opinions on procedures at the Institute of Art Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”; National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) “Krastyo Sarafov” and AMDFA “Prof. Asen Diamandiev”.
Scientific and pedagogical activities: public lectures at the Confucius Institute – Sofia, “Young Scientist” Academic Club at AMDFA “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” and Sofia University (SU) “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Scientific activities: scientific articles, reports, etc. at the Regional Historical Museum (RHM) – Pleven and the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dances (UBMD).
Creative activities: authorship of classical, pop, rock and film music, vocal and piano arrangements, etc.
Recording activities: vocal performer for 12 films, including: "Sparrows in October", "The Truth about Orpheus", "Six Eight One", "Pictures "Bulgaria", "Cornucopia", "Brother Bear", "T.O.T.S.", etc.; vocals for albums with author and world music, etc. "Music director" of dubbing for animated films.
Concert activity: vocal and keyboard performer.
Teaching and creative activities: at the National Theatre Tsar Boris III – 1928, as head and lecturer in the Ph. D. Music Lab.
Member of the Union of Bulgarian Composers, "Musicologists" Section.
