HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Nikolay Dimitrov, born in 2001 in Ruse, Bulgaria, is a classical and jazz pianist, a classical and jazz composer, and a music engraver. He has been playing the piano since the age of 6 and has been composing since the age of 14 in both styles.
In his biography, he has a significant number of prizes from national and international competitions, having also the honor of playing in halls like Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and Musikverein.
Nikolay studied at the National School of Arts – Prof. Veselin Stoyanov in Ruse, Bulgaria where he received his specialized music education before going to the conservatory. His piano teachers then were prof. Snezhana Barova and Maria Gineva. Currently, Nikolay is studying a bachelor of classical piano, year 4 at Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen with Paul Komen.
Nikolay participated in many masterclasses with many names such as prof. Ludmil Angelov, prof. Atanas Kurtev, prof. Milena Mollova, Aglika Genova and Luben Dimitrov, prof. Bozhidar Noev, prof. Yuri Bogdanov, prof. Ilona Timchenko, prof. Borislava Taneva, prof. Jean Bernard – Pommier. He also participated twice in the festival “Peter de Grote” in the Netherlands, where he got prizes both times.
Nikolay has also played as a soloist with Mihail Jora philharmonic orchestra in Brasov, Ruse philharmonic orchestra, and the Athens sinfonietta.
Some of Nikolay’s professional achievements include:
- 2nd prize in Rian de Waal Foundation Composition Competition for Horse Freestyle, the Netherlands (2022)
- Special prize “Talent of the Decade”, awarded for artistic achievements in the past 10 years, Bulgaria (2021)
- Special prize “ppIANISSIMO” in International Composition Competition “Artistes en Herbe”, Belgium (2020)
- Prize “Olga Kamburova” for young talent and incredible artistic achievements in the year, awarded by the Bulgarian National Radio (2018)
- Honorable mention in International Competition for Chamber Music “Concertino Praga”, Czech Republic (2018)
- 1st prize in International Competition “Franz Schubert”, Bulgaria (2017)
- Gran Prix in “Tudor Dumitrescu” International Competition, Romania (2017)
- 1st prize in National Student Accompaniment Competition, Bulgaria (2017)
- 1st prize in International Music Talent Competition “American Protege”, the USA (2014)