VRATZA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA was founded in 1909 as City Symphony of Vratza. In 1953 - 1973 the orchestra builds the Vratza City Opera and made 22 opera projects. Because its popularity in 1973 the orchestra was named "State Philharmonic of Vratza". Since then the Vratza Philharmonic Orchestra has been support by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. Every year the orchestra gives 65 - 70 concerts in Bulgaria and abroad (Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Slovak Republic). In the last years Vratza Philharmonic Orchestra recorded various CD productions under the direction of Manfred Kumle (Germany), Nayden Todorov and Valery Vatchev. The orchestra builds also the International Youth Forum - Vratza