SIF309 Film & Music Productions

Dimitar Danchev

The Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra first violinist, was born on July 15, 1950.

He starts playing the violin at the age of 7 in his home town - Sliven, taking his first lessons with his father. Later he continues with Misho Todorov, student of the world renowned violinist Henri Marteau.

Danchev’s course to professional violinist goes through the Music School in Sofia in the class of Konstantin Zidarov and the National Academy of Music in the class of Prof. Petar Hristoskov.

From 1973 to 1975 he studies with Andre Gertler.

Dimitar Danchev has been awarded in numerous national and international contests:

1965 - I Award-winner and Laureate Rank at the National contest for Youth Singers and Instrumentalists in Sofia

1967 - II Award-winner at the Youth Talent contest in Rousse

1971 - Diploma and Medal at the “Jacques Thibaud” International Contest in Paris

1973 - IV Award-winner at the “Joseph Szigeti” contest in Budapest

1974 - I Award-winner at the “Svetoslav Obretenov” contest in Provadia, Bulgaria

At this period Dimitar Danchev starts his concert activities, giving a great number of recitals. He has been frequently invited as soloist with the leading orchestras in Bulgaria.

From 1977 to 1989 Danchev is the first violinist at the Bulgarian National Opera. Later he becomes the leader of the “Sliven” quartet and meanwhile teaches Violin and Chamber Music at the National Academy of Music.

From 1991 till present Danchev is member of the “Sofia Soloists” Chamber Ensemble. As chamber musician he has toured around Bulgaria, as well as in many European and Asian countries.

Valentin Gerov

The Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra - SIF309 principal violist was born on Feb. 24, 1959 in Sofia.

1985 - graduates The National Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov” in Prof. Chilikov’s Viola Class and Prof. Dimov’s Chamber Music Class

Laureate of national and international contests.

1985-92 - Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra; Tours in USA, Europe and Asia. Integral performances of Beethoven’s, Tchaikovsky’s, Brahms, Mahler’s symphonies.

1991-92 - Specialized at the Music Academy in Stuttgart at “Melos Quartet”.

1993 - “Dimov - quartet, now “Sofia - quartet”; Integral performance - Mozart, Brahms; recordings for The Bulgarian National Radio and The Bulgarian National Television.

1989 - lecturer at the National Music Academy - viola.

Premier performances of Bulgarian pieces, written specially for Valentin Gerov.

Concerts with the most distinguished Bulgarian classic and jazz musicians. Recordings for The Bulgarian National Television and The Bulgarian National Radio.

Works in the area of contemporary music and jazz - CD “Reflections” - Toskov, Gerov and Zahariev

Music arranger of number of theatrical and ballet shows:

“Little Pink Snake”, “The Sad Prince ” for The Bulgarian National Television
“The Bathroom - privacy space” - The Arabesque Ballet

Margarita Kalcheva

The Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra - SIF309 first double bass player had graduated from the national Academy of Music “Pancho VLadigerov” in 1995 in the class of prof. Todor Toshev.

She specialized in chamber music with prof. Viktor Chouchkov.

Prize-winner of the XIV National competition “Svetoslav Obretenov” in Provadia.

Her repertoire includes classical and contemporary works for double bass. She shows herself as a chamber and soloist performer of symphonic and chamber orchestras.

In 1996 together with Chamber Ensemble “Sofia’s soloists” realizes the Bulgarian premiere of “Bravisimo” from Ennio Morricone.

She is the first performer of Marin Golemanov’s Concert for Double bass.

Since 1994 she is an artist-orchestrator of the Symphony Orchestra of Bulgarian National Radio and since 1998 she is a leader of the double bass section of the orchestra.

Since 2004 she is a guest soloist of the Chamber Orchestra of Nyon city, Switzerland.

She performs recordings for Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television.