The Northern Kentucky area is getting a taste of Bulgarian music this month. Bulgarian pianist Angela Tosheva and composer Michail Goleminov will be performing as part of the Bulgarian American Music Festival March 27 through 29.

The performances are part of a three-day festival that also includes a lecture given by Tosheva discussing Bulgarian Classical Folk and Liturgical Music, a Composition Master Class held by Goleminov, as well as several various events March 27 and 28. The festival is part of the North of Eastern International Arts Initiative.

“The initiative sends artists from the Northern Kentucky area to Eastern Europe and Russia in exchange for artists coming here,” said David Cole, a music faculty member.

While the festival’s main purpose is to experience music from another culture, people involved in it said that it serves as a great benefit to NKU and the surrounding area.

“Music is a great cultural marker,” said Music Department Chair and Festival Director Kurt Sander. “This event will help people understand another culture and its music.”

Senior music major and assistant festival director Richard Floeckher also emphasized the importance of the festival.

“It’s always good to get international recognition,” Floeckher said. “The festival will give NKU and the music department really good publicity.”

Tosheva and Goleminov will be giving a free performance at 8 p.m March 26 at NKU’s Greaves Concert Hall. They will also be performing at 8 p.m. March 29 at the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the Carnegie performance will be available at the door and cost $7 for students and $10 for adults.