Georgi Petrov Shagunov

Georgi Petrov Shagunov (1873 – 1948)

Georgi Petrov Shagunov was born on 15.03.1873 in Plovdiv as son of a wealthy family. He studied in the French Catholic College St. Augustine in his hometown Plovdiv. In 1889 he moved to Lyon, France, where he graduated from the Lyceum Saint-Jean and then the Lyon State Conservatory. For six years he studied horn and cornet, as well as music theory and conducting. He was appointed assistant Kapellmeister of Lyon City Brass Orchestra. In 1895 he returned to Bulgaria and was appointed a military Kapellmeister of the brass orchestra by the Third Regiment Equestrian - Plovdiv. After six months of service in 1896, George Shagunov was promoted to Kappelmeister of the Second Equestrian Regiment in Lom. From 24th of January 1887 until his retirement on the 5th of November 1930, he was garrisoned in Burgas as a Kappelmeister of the 24th Black sea Infantry Regiment’s brass orchestra.

Mr. Shagunov is author of the famous march “A Testament” and the Bulgarian Independence hymn from 1908.