Talented, with a flair for music, ambitious… whatever we may add to these words it would not be enough to describe young violinist Alexandrina Boyanova. Bulgaria, Italy and USA are the countries she started and has continued to develop her professional career. And this with the support of her parents, also musicians who have encouraged her since she was a little girl.

“I first started playing the violin with my father Nedko Boyanov, who was concertmaster of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra,” says Alexandrina Boyanova. “At the Lyubomir Pipkov National Music School I was in Ekaterina Dramlieva’s class. When I finished the music school I was able to study with Salvatore Accardo at the Cremona Music Academy, Italy and that prepared me for a more active life. When I settled in New York, time quickened its pace. I still travel to Italy regularly to attend master classes by some of the foremost instrumentalists of our day such as Jaime Laredo and Pamela Frank. Of course, every young instrumentalist dreams of a solo career but life isn’t like that. That is why I lecture as well and that gives me enormous pleasure. I also play with chamber ensembles and orchestra formations.”

Alexandrina Boyanova has been living in New York since 2006. There she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music and then went on study at the JuilliardSchool where she is currently doing her PhD. Her newly discovered passion is baroque – she is now proud owner of a Baroque violin – an instrument very different from classical violins in terms of the way the sound is derived.

“I started playing a Baroque violin last year,” the talented young musician says.

“At the JuilliardSchool there is a special programme for playing baroque works. As a PhD student I am able to work with Robert Mealy, one of the top professionals in this sphere in America. He supports me and helps me with the interpretations from this period. I recently played with the Juilliard Baroque ensemble. The programe featured works by Italian composers from the age of baroque. This is the kind of music that inspires and enriches me as a PhD student at the academy.”

In 2014 Alex recorded Luciano Berio’s Sequence at the Bulgarian National Radio – this piece has never before been recorded at the National Radio and is not in its audio archives. The violinist says that she was happy to be recording at the radio once again.

The audio file features the following works, performed by Alexandrina Boyanova:

-  Rondino, Part 3 of Volin and Orchestra Concerto by Joaquín Rodrigo;

-  Finale from Sonata for Solo Violin Op. 11 by Paul Hindemith;

-  Sequence by Luciano Berio.

English: Milena Daynova