BULGARIA

For everyone that lives and works out of his/her home country it would be easy to understand the emotional importance for me of this on-going project:

Living for many years in Holland - a country where modern art and music are so well developed - I had the opportunity to meet wonderful musicians and artists. It is really great to be able to build a life that allows me to work as a professional musician, travel, and perform the music I love.

Some of my trips take me to Bulgaria.....my home country, where I work intensively as a musician, and teacher for the last few years.

Bulgaria is known for its talents and vast musical potential. That of course is very well represented by its famous folk music and traditions. However, in the field of contemporary music there is still a lot to be discovered. In the situation of changing political systems and economical structures, finding a new way to develop the cultural and social life, living as a professional musician is very demanding.

The main problem in the field of contemporary music (especially for percussion) is the lack of information, finances and opportunities for working with the newest techniques, compositions and methods, as well as the possibility to listen to leading performers and ensembles of our time. For percussionists that is even more complicated since, there are simply not enough instruments of a good professional quality. However, the Bulgarian teachers, and musicians, despite of the poor circumstances, are doing their out most best to redevelop a good musical education and concert events.

Through the course of years I have developed a close collaboration with the organization of “MARCH MUSIC DAYS” Festival, "VARNA SUMMER FESTIVAL", and various colleagues and teachers from the capital Sofia, and throughout the country.

Every one of my visits to Bulgaria becomes a highly emotional and unforgettable experience. Next to the challenge of preparing courses, classes, collaboration with colleagues and students and exchanging ideas and plans, the music we program for the bulgarian audience is of a main importance. It became a tradition to invite internationally recognized musicians, composers and performers to the festivals in Rousse, Sofia and Varna. With the kind support of different Foundations, sponsors, and organizations, we were able to have workshops, classes and performances by some of the most outstanding musicians and ensembles such as:

Ricardo Gallardo - percussion, Mexico; Tara Bouman - clarinets NL / Germany; Helen Bledsoe - flute, USA / Germany; Lisa Bielawa - voice, USA; Anumadutchi Percussion Group, NL; Orkest de Volharding, NL; Jurjen Hampel - conductor, NL; Louis Andriessen - composer, NL Ron Colbers - percussion, NL, Rutger van Otterloo - saxophones, NL; etc.

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