The anniversary of the death of composer Georgi Shagunov will be celebrated in Burgas with an exhibition, concert and book presentation

The 75th anniversary of the death of the composer Georgi Shagunov will be celebrated in Burgas with the laying of wreaths and flowers, an exhibition, a concert and the presentation of a book, reports the press center of the city administration. Georgi Shagunov is the bandmaster of the 24th Black Sea Infantry Regiment, the author of the solemn anthem “Independence” and about 1,500 other musical works in celebration of Burgas and the homeland, as well as an honorary citizen of Burgas.
2023 also marks 150 years since the birth of the composer, 115 years since the declaration of independence of Bulgaria and 130 years since the establishment of the 24th Black Sea Infantry Regiment, based in Burgas for over 50 years. In his memory, on November 10, in Burgas, a laying of flowers and wreaths will be organized at his grave site, on the Alley of Composers and Artists in the Central Burgas Cemetery. Later in the day, a documentary exhibition dedicated to the composer will be opened in the “Sea Casino” Cultural Center, and on the square in front of the center, the Burgas Wind Orchestra with conductor Anastas Kamilarov will perform a concert. After the concert, the audience can visit the presentation of the book “One Testament of Georgi Shagunov” by its author Rumiana Emmanuelidou.
The organizers from the Municipality of Burgas, State Archives, “Znatsi” Publishing House, “Society for Spiritual Manifestations” Association, “Lebed” Hunting and Fishing Society and “Aldor” Agency add that relatives of Georgi Shagunov from France are expected to attend the events. who for the first time will visit not only Bulgaria, but also Burgas.
Georgi Petrov Shagunov was born on March 15, 1873 in Plovdiv. At the age of 16, he left for France, where, at the insistence of his parents, he had to graduate from the Saint Jean Lycée and then study medicine. However, he turns to music. He graduated from the lycée and enrolled at the Lyon State Conservatoire. From 1889, he studied horn and cornet as solo instruments for six years under professors Joren and Brive, as well as music theory and conducting. Before even completing the conducting course with Prof. Aimé Gros, he was appointed assistant Kapellmeister of the Lyon City Wind Orchestra in the fifth arrondissement of Lyon. At the same time, he is a teacher at the Karma school in the same city. Good education produces good results.
In 1895, he returned to Bulgaria and donned the uniform of a military bandmaster. From January 24, 1897 until his retirement on November 5, 1930, he was in the Burgas Garrison – Bandmaster of the 24th Black Sea Infantry Regiment. He participated in the Balkan War as Bandmaster of the 30th Sheynovsky Regiment. After the war, due to disbandment of the 24th Infantry Regiment, two years of teaching at the Burgas Boys High School and the Burgas Music School. When the military bands were formed again, he was appointed bandmaster of the 39th Thessalonica Regiment of the 24th Black Sea Infantry Regiment, and was awarded orders and medals for his excellent service. Shagunov was also awarded the order “St. co-apostles Cyril and Methodius”. It was established on the occasion of the independence of Bulgaria announced on September 22, 1908.
Georgi Shagunov died on November 10, 1948 in Burgas at the age of 75. The Municipality of Burgas posthumously announced him as an Honorary Citizen.