Features
Three Symphonic Pictures for Orchestra – Angel Zaberski
Concerto for Kaval, Clarinet, and Orchestra – Theodosii Spassov
Concerto for Kaval, Clarinet, and Orchestra (World Premiere) – Hristo Yotsov
Borislav Yotsov – conductor/soloist
Born in 1966, Borislav Yotsov graduated from the clarinet class of Prof. Sava Dimitrov. He specialized at the National Conservatory for Music and Dance in Paris with Michel Arrignon and at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA, with Mark Nuccio. He completed his conducting studies in the class of Maestro Nayden Todorov at the New Bulgarian University.
Borislav Yotsov has won first prize in numerous competitions in Bulgaria and the fourth prize at the “Prince Philippe” Competition in Brussels. He is an associate professor at the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” and a teacher at the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov” in Sofia. He is often invited to serve as a jury member in national and international competitions.
He has performed concerts in Europe, America, Japan, and New Zealand. He has been a soloist with all symphony orchestras in Bulgaria and has given dozens of solo recitals.
Borislav Yotsov is a recipient of the “Crystal Lyre” award in the “Instrumentalists” category from the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers and Classic FM (2006), as well as an award in the “Active Creative Activity” category in the “Musician of the Year 2005” survey on the program “Allegro Vivace” on Bulgarian National Radio. He is the founder of the “Studio 5” club and the representative of the International Clarinet Association (ICA) for Bulgaria, as well as the artistic director and conductor of the New Symphony Orchestra.
Angel Zaberski Jr. is a composer, pianist, and arranger.
Born into a family of musicians, Angel Zaberski Jr. graduated from the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov” and the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia in composition under Prof. Dimitar Tapkov in 1996. He worked as an arranger for the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio (1996-2000) and has been teaching improvisation at the New Bulgarian University since 2000.
Zaberski Jr. is a prominent musician with numerous appearances on Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, private radio stations, and television channels. He collaborates with both young and established pop and jazz vocalists, performs in jazz clubs, and has given concerts as a pianist in Germany, France, Spain, the USA, Greece, the UK, Sweden, Slovenia, and others. In 2001, he performed in Turkey with the Ankara Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1998, he founded a jazz trio and in 2000, a jazz octet, where he also served as a conductor and composer, participating in numerous concerts and festivals in Bulgaria.
Zaberski Jr. composes and arranges pieces for string and symphony orchestras, as well as for big bands. He has released several albums, with his latest one featuring his trio in collaboration with Stoyan Yankulov (Stundzhi) and Boris Taslev, titled “Like Jazz 3: Romantic Pieces,” containing his interpretations of popular classical themes by Mozart, Chopin, Albinoni, Ravel, Dvořák, and others.
Angel Zaberski Jr. has been awarded the prestigious “Crystal Lyre” by the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers three times in the jazz category in 2002, 2014, and 2019.
Theodosii Spassov – composer and soloist.
Theodosii Spassov is known as the “kaval master of the world.” Theodosii Spassov is known as the “kaval master of the world.” Born in Isperih, he graduated from the “Philip Kutev” High School of Music in Kotel and the Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” in Plovdiv. He is the first instrumentalist to start playing jazz on the kaval, and his compositions are characterized by a fusion of folk music with elements of jazz and classical music. In recent years, he has composed film and theatre music, and pieces for symphony orchestra and kaval. He has released around 40 albums featuring solo performances and collaborations with various musical ensembles.
He plays with folk, jazz, and classical orchestras and ensembles, alongside renowned musicians such as the Bulgarian National Radio ensembles, the “Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” choir, the National Ensemble “Philip Koutev,” Ivo Papazov, Georgi Yanev, Petar Ralchev, Milcho Leviev, Yıldız İbrahimova, Simeon Shterev, Veselin Nikolov, Petar Petrov, Anatoli Vapirov, “Acoustic Version,” the group of Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, Rabi-Abu Khalil, Glen Velez, Dave Liebman, Glen Moore, Mino Cinelu, Paul McCandless, Billy Cobham, Mark Johnson, Kazumi Watanabe. He has performed with the world-renowned Irish music and dance show “Riverdance” for three years, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monaco, MDR Orchestra Leipzig, the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio, and the Macedonian Philharmonic, as well as with the London Symphony Orchestra in the “Balkan Fever” project alongside guitarists Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadić under the direction of Kristjan Järvi.
In 1995, the magazine “Newsweek” ranked him among the most talented musicians from Eastern Europe. In the section “The Best of the East,” it was noted: “Spassov not only survives in the post-communist cultural wasteland but also creates a new musical genre.”
Theodosii Spassov has participated in recordings for films and theatrical performances, collaborating with names such as Ennio Morricone and Carlo Siliotto. Theodosii Spassov is the recipient of numerous awards and honours for his exceptional contributions to the development and popularization of Bulgarian culture and art. These awards include: 1. Award from the International Academy of Arts in Paris (1996) 2. Musician of the Year (1997 and 2002) 3. Apollon Toxophoros Statuette (2001) 4. Award for Film Music from the National Film Center (2007 and 2016) 5. Dobri Chintulov Award for Contribution to Bulgarian Culture (2009) 6. Golden Age Award from the Ministry of Culture (2011) 7. Order of Cyril and Methodius – First Degree with Collar (2013) 8. Honorary title “Doctor Honoris Causa” from AMTII – Plovdiv (2014) 9. Golden Feather from Classic FM and Makta Gallery 10. UNESCO Artist for Peace 11. Crystal Lyre from SBMTD (2015) 12. Maestro Dimitar Vulchev Award for Theatrical Music (2018) 13. Sofia Award and Askeer Award for Music (2021)
Hristo Yotsov – composer, instrumentalist, arranger.
Born into a family of musicians, Hristo Yotsov graduated from the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov” and the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia, specialising in percussion instruments under the tutelage of Professor Dobri Paliev. Since 1982, he has been playing with various jazz groups in Bulgaria and Europe. With “Acoustic Version,” he won the two most prestigious European jazz awards in Belgium (1985) and Germany (1986). From 1982 to 1989, he was a drummer and arranger for the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio.
Since 1989, he has been leading a class on percussion instruments in the “Pop and Jazz” department at the National Academy of Music, currently holding the position of professor. Yotsov has played with Simeon Shterev, Milcho Leviev, Yıldız İbrahimova, Theodosii Spassov, Mario Stanchev, Tommy Smith, Andy Schofield, Adam Pieronczyk, Eric Pro, Steve Hamilton, Tim Garland, Alexia, Reggie Workman, Benny Maupin, Tom Harrell, and many others.
Currently, Yotsov is one of the most active and creative musicians on the Bulgarian jazz scene, serving as a driving force behind numerous projects. He is the author of music and arrangements for jazz ensembles, big bands, symphonic, film, and theatrical music. This includes “The Beginning” for clarinet, percussion, and chamber orchestra, Concerto for Clarinet and Symphony Orchestra (2002, recorded with the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio), and Concerto for Oboe and Symphony Orchestra (2003, commissioned by the French oboist David Walter, published). “Bilado”, Paris, recorded with the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio; Concerto for Marimba (2004) – First Prize at the IV Competition for Composition of Symphonic Works in Irregular Rhythms “Percussion in 7/8” – Plovdiv, recorded with the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio; pieces for clarinet and piano (2006, published by “Emerson”, London); “Musical Moments” for two pianos and percussion instruments (2007); Concerto for Piano “The Spirit of Jazz” (2013); Concerto for Drum Set and Symphony Orchestra (2015); Concerto for Cello and Symphony Orchestra (2017).
Since 1995, Hristo Yotsov has primarily performed in his projects, featuring both Bulgarian and foreign musicians, for whom he creates original music. He has released over 30 albums for both Bulgarian and foreign record labels.
Yotsov has been awarded prestigious prizes, including First Prize at the jazz group competition in Belgium, First Prize at the jazz competition in Leverkusen, Germany, the Bronze Lyre of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers, the “Golden Pen” award from Classic FM Radio, the “Crystal Lyre” award from the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers, and an Honorary Statue from the Apollonia Foundation for his longstanding contribution to the festival.
