Viktor Benev

I was born in 1990 in Sofia, Bulgaria. I began playingpercussions when I was 6 years old taught by Maria Palieva and Iskra Palieva at theNationalMusic School "Lubomir Pipkov" in Bulgaria - Sofia.

I have performed at numerous Bulgarian and International percussion competitions. My first prize was at 1998 on the competition "YoungMusical Talents" with the ensemble "Snejinka" where I won3rd prize as well as Special Prize on the competition "Music andEarth" during the same year.

My first prize as a soloist was at the national competition"Pendim"(2001) where I was awarded with the 1st Prize.

My most influental prize was at "Pendim"(2007) where I was awarded with the 1st prize and 2 special prizes - for the brightest stage presence, and an educational prize by Tatiana Koleva and the Pustjens Percussion Products in the form of a stipend for Master Classes in Holland.

Me and Georgi Videnov were selected as a duo to presentBulgaria on the international meeting for the newcoming countries ofthe European Union. In Klermont Ferrand - France we presented thebulgarian percussion school.

I have attended percussion meetings with Heinz vonMoisy(Germany), Mojca Sedeu(Macedonia), IgorLeshnik(Croatia) in 1998 Macedonia, Peter Sadlo(Germany) in2005 Bulgaria, Tatiana Koleva(Bulgaria/Holland) in 2007Bulgaria, and Danielle Vineis in 2007 Italy, Aleksandur Kamenarov in 2008 Bulgaria.

I have also performed with the CEI-Youth(Central EuropeanInitiative) Orchestra in Slovenija, Italy, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Austria and Germany as a timpanist and percussionist bythe patronage of the Italian Conductor Igor Coretti -Kuret.

I have alsoplayed as a soloist with the orchestra in Pernik with conductorRaicho Hristov and in Vidin with conductor Ivailo Krinchev.