Lubomir Denev
composer in residence

Lubomir Denev, composer-conductor and piano-improviser was born Sept. 12th 1951 in Vidin – Bulgaria. His musical interests date from his childhood, when he began teaching himself in violin and accordion. From 1965 he continued his education at the High School of Music in Sofia, graduating the percussion class (under prof. Dobri Paliev) in 1971.

From 1973 to 1979 L. Denev is student at the State Musical Academy in Sofia, majoring in composition (in the classes of prof. Tsv. Tsvetanov and prof. Par. Hadjiev) and orchestra conducting (under prof. Konstantin Iliev). During his student’s years L. Denev makes his name as an original and active jazz-pianist and composer, forming his own jazz-trio and taking participation in several International Festivals (Chechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Cuba, Romania, Germany, Portugal, Yugoslavia). Still being a student, in 1977 he wins the position of conductor at the State Musical Theater, where he works untill 1986, realizing on the stage a number of classical operettas and contemporary musicals.

His background includes also courses in conducting under Franco Ferrara (1980 – Siena, Italy) and Edward Dawns (1981 in Hilversum, Holland), and in composition with prof. Anatol Vieru (1995 in Rousse, Bulgaria). In 1983-84 he travels to the USA as an “Unternational Culture Visitor”. From 1986 – L. Denev is a freelance composer and conductor, being frequently invited by the best Symphony orchestras in Bulgaria (in Sofia, Rousse, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas). With the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio he made several concerts and Premier-recordings of new Bulgarian works. His international activity includes recordings for the Greek National Radio (1995 – with the Radio-Symphony Orchestra of Athens) and two CDs for the American company Concord Records – (1996 and 1998).

As a composer Denev works in all musical genres: chamber and symphony music, pop-and jazz, as well as for the theater, TV and cinema. His music was performed in many countries of Europe, in Mexico, India, Russia, Egypt, USA, Canada and Japan. Other international activities include a Tour in Cairo with the musical Love’s Labors lost » (1989) – performed by Bulgarian Chamber Opera and a Premiere in Paris (May 1993) of the musical « The Law of the Jungle ». The latter has received one of music’s major honors in Bulgaria – the award “SOFIA” (1989). He also won the First Prize at the festival « Golden Orpheus » for the pop-song « Before Dawn » (1979) and the award for theater-music in 1999 (Foundation « D. Valchev ») for the ballet « Homo Ludens », premiered by « Arabesque » – ballet and for his musical « Alice ». The latest recognition for the composer is ASKEER 2001 – the most prestigious Theater Music-Award (for the musical “Yesterday”) and in 2002 he was awarded IIId price from the International Composers Competition for choral music in Jihlava-Czechia for his cycle “By the Spring” and also IIId price from the Balkan competition for the song “Silvia” (on Shakespeare’s sonnet) for female choir. Another International Award was adjudged to the composer in 2003 for his chamber piece “PLAYING WITH THE WIND” in Potsdam, Germany, from the Festival INTERSONANZEN. In 2005 he won the Award in the competition for a piano music “BOESENDORFER” for “HYMNS of the SUN”.

2006 – FILM-Music AWARD Golden Chest – Plovdiv for SPARROWS in October L. Denev is also holder of CRISTAL LIRE for BEST JAZZ-performer 2006 2009 – Concerto Nostalgico for sring orchestra was awarded by International Competition SOFIA SOLOISTS Bulgarian National TV produced 2 films, dedicated to L. Denev’s artistic activity: “The Music I Make” (Dec. 2000) and “Smart Village” (Aug. 2005)

L. Denev is member of the Union of Bulgarian Composers and the Society for New Music – Bulgarian section of ISCM.