Summary
Lauded by Sviatoslav Richter as a “truly unmatched musical talent,” Professor Yovcho Krushev is a Bulgarian pianist, composer and educator whose international career started at the Viotti International Music Competition in Verchelli, Italy, where he won 2nd Prize. Next, he placed 5th at the Tchaikovsky International Music Competition in Moscow, after being called to participate on a month’s notice.
Maestro Krushev has performed over 1700 concerts and recitals in America, Europe, Asia and Africa and his repertoire spans from the Baroque to contemporary music. He has received every professional award in Bulgaria and in 2008 became the only Bulgarian pianist decorated by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria with the Highest Level of the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the highest national award for culture and the arts.
Yovcho Krushev is a prolific composer, winner of a Special Award at the Valsesia Musica International Compeititon in Varallo, Italy, for his Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano. His compositions have become part of the curricula at several conservatories and are required repertoire at many competitions. Many of his works are in high demand and performed and recorded on the world stages from Berlin to Hong Kong.
Professor Krushev studied piano at National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the piano class of Professors Konstantine and Julia Ganev, students of Heinrich Neuhaus. He continued on to earn his Masters and Ph.D there as well. He spent almost three decades teaching Piano, Composition and Score Reading at the National Academy in Sofia, before he relocated permanently to the United States.
Maestro Krushev is currently teaching and composing, while continuing to perform regularly.
Professor Krushev currently resides in New England with his wife of over 30 years. He has a son and five grandchildren.
Education
Degrees Awarded by the National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” Sofia, Bulgaria
2001 Ph. D. in Piano Performance and Teaching
1985 M.A. in Composition
1978-1979 M.A. in Piano Performance and Teaching
1974-1978 B.A. in Piano Performance and Teaching
Other Certifications
1979-1981 Graduate Assistantship – Piano Performance with Julia and Constantine Ganevi, students of Heinrich Neuhaus
1974 Accepted at the National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” at only 17, by a Special Decree by the Ministry of Culture
Masterclasses – Sviatoslav Richter, Vera Gornostayeva, Yevgeny Malinin
Professional Experience
Administrative Experience
National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” Sofia, Bulgaria
2016-2018 Chair of Piano Department
2002-2008 Deputy Rector
Teaching Experience
Tenured Professor teaching and advising Bachelor’s and Master’s students, as well as Doctoral candidates in three areas (Piano, Composition and Score Reading)
National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” Sofia, Bulgaria
2004-2018 Composition
1987-2018 Piano
2001-2018 Professor of Piano
1995-2000 Associate Professor of Piano
1990-1995 Full-Time Senior Lecturer
1987-1990 Part-Time Instructor
1987-2018 Choral and Orchestral Score Reading
1990-2018 Professor
1987-1990 Part-Time Instructor
University of Veliko Turnovo “Saints Cyril & Methodius,” Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria
1999-2009 Adjunct Professor (Piano, Score Reading, Orchestration and Organology)
Piano Master Classes
2018 Frank & Camille’s Pianos, Melville, NY
2017 Shigeru Concert Series, Frank & Camille’s Pianos, Melville, NY
2016, 2017 Burgas, Bulgaria
2014-2017 New Pianists” International Piano Competition, Sofia, Bulgaria
2003-2008 Biannual International Piano Master Class Series, Seoul, South Korea
1998 Master Class – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Performance Experience (selected)
Symphony Orchestras
International
Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra Potsdam, Germany; Conductor Dieter-Gerhard Worm
Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra Moscow, Russia; Conductor Vassily Sinaisky
I Pomeriggi Musicali Milan, Italy; Conductor Vladimir Ghiaurov
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, Japan, Conductor Kazufumi Yamashita
Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra Iași, Romania
Arad State Philharmonic Arad, Romania,
Banatul State Philharmonic Timisoara, Romania
Skopjie Philharmonic Skopjie, Macedonia
Bratislava Radio Orchestra Bratislava, Slovakia
National
Performed with every symphony orchestra in Bulgaria.
Sofia National Philharmonic Orchestra Sofia, Bulgaria – Soloist in the last 39 consecutive seasons
Varna Philharmonic Orchestra International Tour Varna, Bulgaria; Conductor Mariss Jansons
Katowice, Poland; Conductor Ivan Marinov
Ostrava, Czech Rep.; Conductor Ivan Marinov
Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra Tour Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; Conductor Borislav Ivanov
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra Sofia, Bulgaria; Conductor Ilmar Lapinsch
Other notable collaborations: Jean-Ives Gaudin, Conrad Van Alfen, Joseph Henry, Aleksei Kornienko, Ivo Venkov
Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble
Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Sofia, Bulgaria, as well as other chamber orchestras in Bulgaria
Special performances of the complete set of chamber works of Sergey Rachmaninov
Dozens of chamber performances with different ensemble combinations
Recitals
Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary, The Netherlands, Japan, India, Tunisia, Algeria, United States
Tours
1990, 1989, 1987 Russia (first international artist to perform in Murmansk)
1990 Japan, Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia)
1989 East Germany, Italy, India, Romania
1988 Slovakia (Czechoslovakia)
Awards
International Piano Awards
1986 5th Place Award at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Moscow
(Over 100 pianists, including 76 Laureates of international competitions – 31 of them 1st Place winners.)
1978 2nd Place at the Viotti International Music Competition in Verchelli, Italy
(Over 100 pianists)
International Composition Awards
1984 Special Composition Award. Valsesia Musica International Competition in Varallo, Italy Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano
National Awards
2017 The Golden Lyre Award. For Exceptional Career Achievements. Awarded by the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD)
2008 Highest Level of the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Awarded by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria for “greatly valued contributions to the development of culture and the arts in Bulgaria,” the Highest National Award for Culture and the Arts ever given to a pianist in the country
2007 The Golden Lyre Award. For Exceptional Career Achievements. Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD)
2003 Special Award of the National Arts Salon, Bulgaria. Awarded for the performance of the complete chamber works by Sergei Rachmaninov
2001 The Golden Muse Award. For the popularization of Russian Classical Music in Bulgaria
1999 The Crystal Lyre Award. For Superior Achievements in the Performing Arts. Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD), Ministry of Culture and Classic FM Radio.
1987 The Youth Lyre Award for Performing Arts. Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD)
Recordings
147 recorded live and studio performances, currently in the archives of the Bulgarian National Radio
Jury of Music Competitions
International
2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 New Pianists International Piano Competition, Judge Panel Chair. Sofia, Bulgaria
2017, 2015, 2013, 2006, 2003 Liszt-Bartok International Piano Competition. Sofia, Bulgaria
2016, 2014 Dimitar Nenov International Piano Competition. Razgrad, Bulgaria
2004 Zeiler International Music Competition. Sofia, Bulgaria
2003 1st International Competition for Russian and Bulgarian Music. Varna, Bulgaria, with the participation of Sergei Dorensky
2001 Pancho Vladigerov International Piano Competition. Shumen, Bulgaria
National
Annually since 2008 Piano Academic Competition. National Academy of Music. Sofia, Bulgaria
2017, 2016, 2015 Crystal Lyre Award, Judge Panel Chair. Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers. Sofia, Bulgaria
2017 Judge Panel Chair, 2001 German & Austrian Music Competition. Burgas, Bulgaria
2004, 2002 Dobri Hristov Second Bulgarian Music Competition. Varna, Bulgaria
2001 7/8 Composition Competition (for a Symphonic composition written in the traditional Bulgarian folk meter of 7/8)
Compositions (selected)
Author of instrumental, vocal, choral, chamber and symphonic works, compositions for theatrical productions, and Christian music.
Published by the National Academy of Music
Sonatina for Clarinet & Piano
Rondo for Clarinet & Piano
Choral Works
Compositions for choir published in the Bulgarian Choral Music Anthology, Vol 10:
“Sigh,” “Shadows at Dusk,” “Swirling Black Clouds,” “Sleeping Lake”
Published by The Bulgarian Music Publishing House
Sonata for Viola & Piano
Lyric Suite in Eight Movements by Edward Grieg – transcribed for Violoncello & Piano
3 Pieces by Sergey Rachmaninov – transcribed for Violoncello & Piano
Dr. Krushev’s compositions are performed regularly on international stages from Berlin to Hong Kong. Several of them are part of the academic curricula in different conservatories, and his Pieces de Concours have been required repertoire in several music competitions.
Academic Research
The Art of Reading and Playing Choral and Orchestral Scores Vol. I: Old Clefs. Sofia: Music Horizons, professional journal of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers, ca. 1995.
Membership in Professional Organizations
2010-Present “Sergey Rachmaninov” Music Society. Non-profit foundation focused on popularization of classical music and teaching of talented children – Founder and Chairman
1984-Present Union of Bulgarian Composers
1990-Present Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD)