Darin Varbanov
Violin |
Mr. Darin Varbanov graduated as a violinist from The State Musical Academy-Sofia, Bulgaria in 1991 (MA-Violin), under Prof. Anton Hadjiatanasov. For the next 12 years, he worked as a violin teacher at The National School of Music-Sofia, Bulgaria. Studying and working at both of these institutions has provided him with opportunities to gain and enhance his professional experience, which enabled him to perform as a violinist, since 1978 till now, in many concerts - solo recitals, chamber music concerts and orchestras in different cities in Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, England, Singapore and Thailand. In 1980 he was awarded First Prize at the Cleveland Inter-Tie Competition in Middlesbrough, England, as a member of the violin quartet “Violino”.
Darin Varbanov has acquired extensive experience and possesses a wide repertoire as a violin player. Additionally, he has enriched his qualifications in the area of chamber music. In 1997, he completed a two year Chamber Music Master Class under Prof. Maia Patroneva - at The State Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” - Sofia, Bulgaria. Currently, he plays on a violin, which has been crafted by the accomplished violin maker Andrian Andreev, whose design inspiration came from an A. Stradivari violin, dated 1715. As a violin teacher at The National School of Music “Lubomir Pipkov”, Sofia, Bulgaria, Darin Varbanov was responsible for the organization and production of more than one hundred students’ concerts, which included recitals, orchestra soloists, chamber music and appearances. Moreover, he assisted Lubomir Baharov in teaching the violin at his Private Violin Studio. During this time, he prepared violin students to compete in different violin competitions in Europe, as “Klassisk Musikkonkurrence” - Copenhagen, Denmark, “Kocian International Violin Competition”, Czech Republic, Young Music Talents- Sofia, Bulgaria. He was a co-organizer of The National Contest for children violinists – Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria from 1993 till 1996. In 2003 Darin Varbanov was appointed violin teacher at a private music school in Singapore, where he set up and taught violin classes till 2006. In October 2006, he established his own Violin Art Studio, which in November 2008 developed into music school, named MUSICAL ART STUDIO. Concurrently, he held the position of Violin Teacher (Adjunct) at the School of the Arts, Singapore from January 2008 to May 2013. From 2013 to 2015, Darin Varbanov resided in the USA, Virginia, where he taught the Violin at Harmonia School of Music and Art (Vienna, VA) and Harmonic Music Studios (Washington DC), as well as private students, including students, who take live online violin lessons. In 2015 Darin moved back to Singapore and resumed his teaching at Musical Art Studio. |
Vera Boyadzhieva
Violin |
Ms Vera Boyadzhieva was raised and educated in the city of Varna, Bulgaria. She started her music education at the age of 5 at the State School of Music in her city. She gave her first performance at the age of 11 and has since taken part in many solo concerts and competitions. She graduated and received her Master’s Degree in violin from State Academy of Music-Sofia, Bulgaria where she studied with Prof. Ginka Gichkova( who is a pupil of the great Bulgarian violinist Emil Kamilarov – a Paganini Violin Competition winner) After she finished her highest education, Vera joined the orchestra of New York Harlem Theatre as a freelancer and for the past 17 years she took part periodically in their performances all over Europe and Japan. At the same time in 1996, she commenced work in Varna Symphony Orchestra and later in the State Opera Varna. Moreover, Ms Vera taught the violin at the High School of Music in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as teaching private students since 2000.
In 2006, she relocated to Cairo, Egypt where she worked for 5 years as a member of the Cairo Opera Orchestra in the position of an assistant-concertmaster. During her years in Cairo she taught the violin at the British International School and Modern English School. She became very popular as a tutor especially after one of her students won the first price in “Jugend Musiziert” Competition- Germany. Since 2011, Ms Vera has been teaching the Violin in Singapore and In August 2013, she took the position of Violin Teacher at Musical Art Studio, Singapore. |
Diana Kostova - Piano and Music Theory
Ms Diana Kostova started playing Piano at the age of five. Her music interests led her to enroll in the Music high School in Varna, and later at the National Academy of Music in her native Bulgaria, where she earned a Master of Music Degree. She continued her post-graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA, where she graduated with a Diploma in Music Performance. She has performed on three continents and is active on the local music scene.
Diana's background includes over fifteen years experience teaching Piano and Music Theory in Singapore, USA and Europe. This diverse environment has given her many opportunities to develop new musical skills and ideas among her students, and to challenge them with interesting repertoires. Her teaching style is a combination of experienced guidance, creativity, encouragement and high expectations. She feels extremely comfortable teaching students of all ages and levels. Her approach is built on warmth and tactful sensitivity.
In addition to her teaching, she is an Organist at Trinity Methodist Church, Singapore and is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, Singapore Chapter. She teaches Piano, Organ and Music Theory.
Ms Diana Kostova started playing Piano at the age of five. Her music interests led her to enroll in the Music high School in Varna, and later at the National Academy of Music in her native Bulgaria, where she earned a Master of Music Degree. She continued her post-graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA, where she graduated with a Diploma in Music Performance. She has performed on three continents and is active on the local music scene.
Diana's background includes over fifteen years experience teaching Piano and Music Theory in Singapore, USA and Europe. This diverse environment has given her many opportunities to develop new musical skills and ideas among her students, and to challenge them with interesting repertoires. Her teaching style is a combination of experienced guidance, creativity, encouragement and high expectations. She feels extremely comfortable teaching students of all ages and levels. Her approach is built on warmth and tactful sensitivity.
In addition to her teaching, she is an Organist at Trinity Methodist Church, Singapore and is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, Singapore Chapter. She teaches Piano, Organ and Music Theory.
Chooi Jing Yen
Violin and Guitar |
Born and raised in Singapore, Mr Chooi Jing Yen received the bulk of his violin instruction under the tutelage of Mr Darin Varbanov. In 2010, at the age of just 20, Jing Yen was awarded the DipABRSM Principles in Instrumental Teaching (Violin), which, amongst other things, involved him writing a thesis on the teaching methods of the (relatively) modern contemporaries Carl Flesch and Ivan Galamian.
Jing Yen formally joined Musical Art Studio as a violin instructor in 2011. That same year, he also enrolled as a full-time student in the Singapore Management University School of Law, where he was involved with SMU's resident guitar ensemble, Guitarissimo. He continues to feature in performances post-graduation. Jing Yen's familiarity with the violin and guitar lend a fresh and unique perspective in his teaching of both instruments. In 2016, Jing Yen was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, but he continues to pursue his musical interests with undiminished enthusiasm. |
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Ivan Ivanov
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Our Ex-teachers
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Ms Elena Metodieva is a pianist, who graduated from The State Academy of Music, Sofia , Bulgaria. After graduation, she held the position of Assistant Professor in chamber music at The State Academy of Music and The National Academy of Theatre and Movie in Sofia , Bulgaria .
She has expanded her expertise by completing a two year Master class in Chamber music at The State Academy of Music, Sofia and French music Master class.
From an early age, Elena has participated in many concerts, playing in chamber music ensembles and performing as a soloist in both her own recitals and as a guest soloist with orchestras in many cities in Europe, North America and Asia, including Calgary, Wien, Frankfurt, Berlin, Budapest, Bratislava, Sofia, Alliance Française /Bangkok, Victoria Concert Hall with Braddell Heights SO and Esplanade Recital Studio/Singapore. She has also performed in recording sessions for The National Radio and Television and for Radio Berlin .
Moreover, Elena has composed music for several puppet shows, which were presented over the world. For some of these puppet shows, her compositions were awarded prizes.
She has expanded her expertise by completing a two year Master class in Chamber music at The State Academy of Music, Sofia and French music Master class.
From an early age, Elena has participated in many concerts, playing in chamber music ensembles and performing as a soloist in both her own recitals and as a guest soloist with orchestras in many cities in Europe, North America and Asia, including Calgary, Wien, Frankfurt, Berlin, Budapest, Bratislava, Sofia, Alliance Française /Bangkok, Victoria Concert Hall with Braddell Heights SO and Esplanade Recital Studio/Singapore. She has also performed in recording sessions for The National Radio and Television and for Radio Berlin .
Moreover, Elena has composed music for several puppet shows, which were presented over the world. For some of these puppet shows, her compositions were awarded prizes.
