Bulgarian Folk Music Instruments, Singing and Dance
Classic Instruments, Singing, Conducting, Composition
JAZZ-IMPROVISATION, JAZZ-AND POP SINGING
Kaval / Folk orchestra
Prof. Milcho Vassilev, Academy for Music, Dance and Fine Arts
Prof. Milcho Vassilev graduated the School of music in Plovdiv, in Violoncello-klasse and graduated at the State Academy of music in Sofia, folk-music, composition and conducting with Prof. Sagaev. He worked as a teacher at the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka. Since 1974 at the department of Folk Music at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. From 2000 he is professor and Head of Folk music department. He is a chairman and member of jury for many Folk competitions and festivals.
Solo Folk Singing, Folk Choir
Doz. Dr. Svetla Stanilova, Academy for Music, Dance and Fine Arts
Doz. Dr. Svetla Kaludova-Stanilova graduated the National Music School “Dobrin Petkov” and the Music and Dance Academy-Plovdiv. She has a number of records in the National Radio and Television, a one-man CDs. Today she is an associate professor of folklore singing and conducting of folklore choir in the Music and Dance Academy in Plovdiv. Since 2000 up to the present she has been working as a conductor of the chamber folklore formation “Phillipopoly”.
Gaida, Kaba Gaida
Georgi Kichukov, Rhodope Folklore State Ensemble, Smolyan
Georgi Kichukov graduated National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka and Academy for Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. He performed with many folk ensemble and now he is Director of the Rhodope Folklore State Ensemble in Smolyan.
Folk dance
Toma Karapaunov, Rhodope Folklore State Ensemble, Smolyan
Toma Karapaunov is a graduate of the National High School in Dance Arts in Sofia, Bulgarian Folklore Dances. He continued his education in the Academy for Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv and graduated in Choreographic Directing and Pedagogy. He worked for the Trakia Folklore Ensemble in Plovdiv. Since 1986 he is a choreograph of the Rhodope Folklore State Ensemble.
Singing
Prof. Ellie Valkenburg / USA, Concert Singer
Prof. Ellie Valkenburg/USA, soprano, received her training at the University of Michigan, where she received a Master’s Degree in voice at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and participated in the program at the New York City Opera. She is a founding member and Artistic Director of “Poetica Musica”, a New York-based chamber music group. She has held teaching positions at Adelphi University, the College of New Rochelle, and the University of Alabama.
Conducting, Composition
Prof. Vassil Kazandjiev / Bulgaria, State Academy of Music
Prof. Vassil Kazandjiev graduated in 1957 from the Bulgarian State Music Akademy in the composition class of Prof. P. Vladigerov and conducting with Prof. V.Simeonov. He started his career in conducting at the National Opera in Sofia. In 1962 he founded the Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble with which he had very successful concerts for 15 years. Since 1978 he was Chef Conductor of the Symphony orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio. He is also professor of Orchestral Conducting at the State Academy of Music. Vassil Kazandjiev is one of the most talented Bulgarian composers.
Piano
Prof. Roland Keller / Austria, University for Music, Vienna
Prof. Roland Keller/ Austria studied with J. Uhde, A. Perret and L. Hoffmann, and attended master classes of L.Hernadi, L.Stefanski, G.Agosti, M.Tipo,
W. Kempff. He won the Josef Pembaur Award in Bern and received prizes at the Music Competition in Bonn, the competetions “Vianna da Motta” in Lisbon, the ARD in Munich and the “F,Busoni” in Bolzano. Mr. Keller has given numerous piano recitals and has performed with famous orchestras and conductors at home and abro-ad. He has also made radio and disk recordings. Since 1986 he has his own concert class at the University for music and performing Arts in Vienna. Mr. Keller has also given lectures and seminars on piano and perfor-ming techniques and has acted as member of the jury.
Prof. Albena Dimova / Bulgaria, Academy for Music, Plovdiv
Prof. Albena Dimova has graduated from the National Academy of Music in piano. Later she specialized with Prof. Fransoise Tinat at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. She has realized numerous premieres of Bulgarian, French and Austrian works. She took part in many festivals. Ms. Dimova’s repertoire encompasses works of all styles and genres. She recorded for Bulgarian National Radio and TV; Balkanton; Radio Plovdiv. She toured Europe successfully. She is Associate Professor at the Plovdiv Academy of Music.
Violoncello/Chamber Music
Prof. Susanne Ehn –Riebl / Austria, Mozarteum, Salzburg
Violoncello/Chamber Music Prof. Susanne Ehn-Riebl / Austria studied at the Vienna University of music, at the University Mozarteum Salzburg, and with W. Pleeth in London. Since 1985 she has been teaching cello and chamber music at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and has been giving master classes. As a member of the Vienna String Sextet she has toured throughout the world performing at the most famous concert halls. She has recorded numerous CDs for EMI and Pan classics.
Prof. Georgita Nikolova / Bulgaria, State Academy of Music
Prof.Georgita Nikolova graduated at the State Academy of Music, Sofia. 1980 laureate of the National Competition 'Sv.Obretenov'. Specialized at the Moscow Academy of Music with Prof. N.Shahovskaya and Chamber music with Prof. Alehanov. Held master classes-cello and chamber music in Greece and in Cyprus. Since 1990 she is Professor for Violoncello and Chamber Music at the State Academy of music in Sofia.
Flute/Chamber Music
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Renner / Austria, “Franz Schubert” Conservatory, Vienna
Prof.Dr.Wolfgang Renner is born in Vienna. Flute-studies at the Vienna Music University. Soloist in concertos with the Tonkünstler-Orchestra-Vienna, the Sofia Philharmonic, the B. Martinu Philharmonic, the Taiwan and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Flute-Ensemble etc. Founder of the“Ensemble Passacaglia Vienna” and the Flute-Duo Renner-Liao. First perfor-mances of numerous works dedicated to them. Master classes in Austria, Taiwan, Bulgaria etc. Wolfgang Renner is professor at the Franz Schubert Conservatory in Vienna.
Jazz-Improvisation
Prof. Dr.hon.c. Milcho Leviev
Prof. Milcho Leviev Award winning composer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, conductor and educator of classical and jazz music. Doc. Hon. C. at the Academy of Music and Dance, Plovdiv, Bulgaria and the New Bulgarian University, Sofia. Lecturer, the jazz studies department at University of Southern California. Teacher at the Grove music school, LA 1974 - 1992. Music Direc-tor," Comeback In " jazz club, Venice, CA. "Dramalogue" winner for Best Musical Director (USA). Arrangement of "Blue Rondo a la Turk", (D. Brubeck), rec. by Al Jarreau's Grammy winning album of 1982, "Breakin' Away". Grammy Nomination for Best Vocal Arrangement of Charlie Parker's, "Confirmation", rec. by Manhattan Transfer, 1981, on their album "Mecca for Moderns". Co - leader of the jazz - classical quartet Free Flight. Contracted compositions, arrangements and performances for : the American Jazz Philaharmonic, Beverly Hills Symphony Orchestra. Music Director for the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio & TV, 1962 - 1964 Composer for Bulgarian Feature, Animated and Documentary Films, 1963 -1968. Critic's Prize, Montreaux Jazz Festival, 1967. Leader and pianist, jazz quartet Focus '65 - 1965 - 1970. Music director and composer-in-residense, State Drama Theater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (1960 - 1962). Second Prize, International Youth Festival Composition Competition, Vienna, Austria 1959.
Jazz and pop singing
Vicky Almazidu
Vicky Almazidu was born in Bulgaria. She graduated as a singer from Sofia State Music Academy. Since 1987 she has been living and working in Greece. She initiated the first jazz signing class at the Thessaloniki Modern Conservatoire. In 1995, she founded Jazzoo Quartet with which for five years she performed at concerts. Since 2000 she appears with TRS (Thessaloniki Rhyhm Section), which involves world-famous musicians from the Greek jazz school like Grigori Simadopoulos, Nikos Salonitis, Mikos Psofogeorgos, Oleg Chaly, Hristos Germenaglou, and Kostas Maginas. Vicky Almazidou works also with virtuoso pianist and composer Georgios Kontrafouris. In the last few years Vicky Almazidou and her band, Lydian Riff, have been guest artists at the biggest Bulgarian jazz festivals: Bansko, Plovdiv, Apolonia in Sozopol, and Bankia. Since 2002 she works with Milcho Leviev, the two of them appearing in numerous concerts in Bulgaria and abroad. Their performances at the Dimitria Art Fests 2002 in Thessaloniki and their concert at Bulgaria Hall during Sofia Music Jam received considerable acclaim. In the same year, Vicky Almazidou's album "Dream" came out. The CD represents a unique compilation of the singer's own arrangements of authentic Bulgarian and Greek folk melodies developed into modern jazz pieces and songs. In 2003, at the Dimitria Fest in Thessaloniki, Vicky Almazidou had a concert together with the greatest jazz percussionist Billy Cobham, Milcho Leviev and Yotos Kiortsoglou from Human Touch. In 2004, as a result of two years of collaboration with Milcho Leviev, their joint album "Quiet Love" came out and received the 2005 Golden Feather Award for contribution to Bulgarian culture. In 2006, Vicky Almazidu had her first Balkan Tour with the legendary American drummer Peter Erskine, and with Milcho Leviev and Yotis Kiourtsoglou. The same year she gave a tribute concert with the Classic FM Radio Orchestra and the best Bulgarian jazz musicians conducted by Milcho Leviev in "Bulgaria" Hall.
