Rumen Kolev, 'The Voice of Bulgaria' contestant, has died

Rumen Kolev, a 54-year-old contestant on the musical competition show ‘The Voice of Bulgaria’, has passed away. The news was announced by the show’s production team following the broadcast of his performance on October 11.

Kolev, originally from Haskovo, had been involved in music for 35 years. Due to limited professional opportunities in Bulgaria, he moved to South Africa in 1997, where he performed in clubs in Johannesburg and Cape Town. He recently returned to Bulgaria at the urging of his daughter to participate in the competition.

During the casting process, Kolev performed ‘Nezhno postoyanstvo’ by Diana Express. Although offered a spot on Ivan Lechev’s team, he chose to compete under the mentorship of Dara. The production team expressed their condolences, stating, ‘In memory of Rumen Kolev. Your voice will stay with us forever!’