Valya Balkanska
At a glance
| In Bulgarian | Валя Младенова Балканска |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 January 1942, near Arda, Smolyan Province |
| Birth name | Feyme Kestebekova |
| Occupation | Solo singer |
| Known for | “Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin” on the Voyager Golden Record |
| Ensemble | Rodopa State Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances, since 1960 |
| Years active | 1960–present |
Source: Wikipedia: Valya Balkanska1
Early life and career
Born Feyme Kestebekova in a hamlet near Arda in Smolyan Province, Balkanska has sung Rhodope folk songs since early childhood. She performs a repertoire of more than 300 songs in Bulgaria and abroad. Since 1960, she has worked as a soloist with the Rodopa State Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances from Smolyan.1
Her 2004 album, Glas ot vechnostta (Voice from the Eternity), is a compilation of some of her best-known songs. These include “A bre yunache ludo i mlado”, “Goro le goro zelena” and “Maychinko stara maychinko”.1
Voyager recording
Balkanska is best known in the West for “Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin”. She recorded it in 1968, accompanied by gaida players Lazar Kanevski and Stephan Zahmanov. Her best-known recording was made in the late 1960s by the American explorer of Bulgarian folklore Martin Koening and released on vinyl in the United States.1
The song was selected for the Voyager Golden Record, a message from Earth carried aboard two spacecraft. It formed part of the final 90-minute music selection assembled by Carl Sagan. Voyager 2 launched on 20 August 1977, followed by Voyager 1 on 5 September that year.1
Awards and honours
In 2002, Balkanska received the Stara Planina Order, Bulgaria’s highest award. In December 2005, she was honoured with a star plate on the Bulgarian Walk of Fame in Sofia.1
She is a solo singer and has been active since 1960.1
Sources
Facts checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information.
