The Ministry of Culture - patron of the Diko-Ilia holidays

The Ministry of Culture accepted to be the patron of the 18th International Festival of Wind Orchestras "Diko Iliev" - Montana, 2024. This is a high assessment of the most significant event in the municipality's cultural calendar. It meets the criteria specified in the Procedure for obtaining the patronage of the Ministry of Culture for organizing and holding public events.

The holidays are culturally oriented. They represent Bulgarian culture, contribute to the preservation of the rich traditions of brass bands on a national level, and promote the work of the composer Diko Iliev not only in our country but also abroad with the commitment of orchestras from other countries to perform his works.

The holidays promote creative contacts and contribute to the deepening of international cultural cooperation. One of the accompanying events - the Children’s Fine Art Competition ​​"The Music and Dances of My People" is also of international scope.

The festival is important because they attract the best orchestras and majorettes from Bulgaria to participate and find a wide media coverage. The Competition for Creating New Works for Wind Orchestra, which is a side event of the holidays, is also of national scope. The festival is included in the calendar of the Ministry of Culture for 2024.

The festival, which is traditional because it has been held for 36 years, is a bridge between generations. It presentd talented young and established artists because it feature youth, professional, and military orchestras that have received national or international awards.

The festival's organization relies on cooperation with the Union of Bulgarian Composers, the Union of Music and Dance Artists, and Sofia Univercity "St. Kliment Ohridski" - organizations with authority, as well as cultural institutions in Montana.