Dimitar Hadjigeorgiev (Hadjigenchev) belongs to the second generation of Bulgarian composers. He was among the founding members of the Bulgarian Music Union, Bulgarian Opera Association and other music institutions. His name is mainly connected with the early development of the opera, orchestral and choral art in Bulgaria. He completed his secondary education in Edirne, Turkey (1890). At the same time he studied music with the Hungarian musician M. Shafran (conductor of the first Bulgarian orchestra in Shumen founded in 1851 and author of orchestral music). In 1897 he graduated from the Prague Conservatoire. He returned to Bulgaria and worked as a teacher of music in Stara Zagora where he also conducted a school wind orchestra. He was among the founders of Kaval Music Society and conductor of an orchestra. From 1902 to 1912 he taught music at a high school in Sofia. He was also one of the founders of the Private Music School (1904), first Headmaster of the State Music School (present-day Lubomir Pipkov National Music School) (1912-18) and of the State Academy of Music (1921-31).

He is the author of a Jubilee Cantata to Tsar Liberator (1901, which won the first prize at the Competition for Cantatas on the occasion of the inauguration of the Tsar Liberator Monument in Sofia) and of a Solemn Overture (1906, second prize at the Competition held on the occasion of the inauguration of the National Theatre). He composed children’s and school songs, the opera Tahir Begov’s Wife, etc. He also compiled song collections. He edited and published the Music Newspaper (1904-10; 1921-28) and the newspaper Music and Musicians.He wrote a History of Music (1922) and other textbooks of music and school materials. He published articles on contemporary music and its role in society.

Stage music:

Operas:
Tahir Begov’s Wife, libretto M. Georgiev (premiered at the Sofia Opera, 1911);
Zairia (1912, unfinished).

Operettas:
Early in the Morning (1910).

Choral-orchestral works:

Jubilee Cantata to Alexander II, the Tsar Liberator for mixed choir and orchestra, lyrics by Ivan Vazov (1901);
Jubilee Cantata to Vazov (1920).

Works for symphony orchestra:

Solemn Overture on the occasion of the inauguration of the National Theatre (1906);
Music Picture “Macedonia is Free” (1917);
Vazov March (1920).

Chamber Music:

Concert Polka for two flutes and piano (1896).
Four Pieces for piano.
Four Pieces for voice and piano.

Choral music:

Six Songs for mixed choir.

Song collections:

Bulgarian Songs (1920);
New Songs for Night and Morning Occasions (1922);
“Basil Bunch” (1923);
Girls’ Tears (1924);
Native Music.

Selected books (published in Bulgarian):
History of Music (Sofia, 1922).

Selected literature on him (in Bulgarian):
Balareva, Agapia. Dimitar Hadjigeorgiev (Sofia, 1962).