ivan donchev

Ivan Donchev is born in Bulgaria in 1981, and begins his musical studies at the age of five, giving his first public recital just one year later, and winning his first international competition at the age of nine. In 1993 he makes his concerto debut with Burgas Philharmonic Orchestra performing Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D.Gifted with exceptional temperament, he is held in esteem for the refinement of his musical interpretations and for the extraordinary virtuosity lacking any sort of rhetoric.He is a prizewinner in several international competitions: “EMC” (Dublin, Ireland), “Carl Flitsch" (Sibiu, Romania); "A. Copland" (Varna, Bulgaria); "Città di Monopoli" (Italy); “Concorso Europeo di Villafranca Tirrena” (Italy); "Seiler" (Palermo, Italy); "Sergio Fiorentino" (Morcone, Italy); "Giuseppe Terracciano" (Giffoni, Italy), and has performed concerts in Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Romania, France: Sofia (NDK, Conservatory’s Hall), Burgas (Concert Hall), Munich (Gasteig), Darmstadt (Kennedy Haus), Kitzingen (Seiler Konzertsaal), Bad Kreuznach, "Sansepolcro Symphony Festival”, Rome (Auditorium Massimo, Baldini Hall),Messina (Filarmonica Laudamo), Gioia del Colle (Teatro Rossini), Lamezia Terme (Teatro Umberto I), Cadenabbia (Piano Academy), Maratea International Music Festival, Oradea (Enescu-Bartàk Hall), Festival “ Spring’s Concerts”(Naples), "Festival de Radio France" (Montpellier) and many others. In 1997 he is awarded by the city of Burgas with the honorable prize “Talent of the year”. In 2000 he graduates with full grades at “Pancho Vladigerov” Music School in Burgas (Bulgaria), and in 2002 he graduates with honors at the Conservatory of Music “F.Torrefranca” in Vibo Valentia (Italy), winning the first prize in the competition for best Italian music graduates held in Castrocaro. As a prize-winner, he recorded a CD delivered throughout Italy in attachment to the classical music magazine “Suonare News.Ivan Donchev has performed the piano concertos by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Grieg and Rachmaninov with Burgas Philharmonic, Kronstad Philharmoniker, Oradea Symphony Orchestra, “Mozart Sinfonietta” Chamber Orchestra, Bari Symphony Orchestra and Razgrad Philharmonic. Moreover, he has recorded the complete works for piano and orchestra by Chaikovsky and has given the world premiere of Vito Palumbo’s Quadro sinfonico concertante, to him dedicated by the author. This CD is published and produced by Rai Trade. His performances are broadcasted by Bulgarian National Television and by Italian cable radio classical music channel.Ivan Donchev’s broad repertory covers many of the most important piano works from Bach and Scarlatti to the contemporary composers, to whom he devotes a particular attention. He is also very passionate about jazz music and piano improvisation and in 2008 he achieves his jazz Diploma with full grades, presenting a research thesis on Miles Davis.His piano teachers include renowned pianists like Julia Nenova, Walter Krafft, Liudmil Angelov, Bojidar Noev, Atanas Kurtev, Boris Bloch, Paolo Subrizi, Konstantin Bogino, Fausto Di Cesare, William Grant Naborè. Essential for the development of his musical personality, is the meeting with Aldo Ciccolini.Ivan Donchev is obtaining his master degree in chamber music at the "Santa Cecilia" Conservatory of Music in Rome , and serves on the piano faculty at the “Cherubini” School of Music.