A composer who writes rock, jazz and symphony music inspired by Bulgarian folklore – that is something one doesn’t see very often. Young composer Vassil Belezhkov recently won second prize at the International Competition for Composition of Symphonic Work “7/8”. The Premiere of Symphony Variations Kitchitse, buina loboda – the work that brought him the prize was performed by the Sofia Philharmonic with conductor Martin Panteleev. “It wasn’t I that chose music, it chose me and with my works, I am the conduit of its energy,” he says.

Alongside his taste for symphony music and folklore, young Vassil Belezhkov started listening to rock and metal with Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Metallica among his favourites. Since 2009 he has been guitarist of the Episode band; later he doubled up on the piano. The musician has also written some of the music for Episode’s latest album called My Prayer.

“I have composed one song so far – it is called Father’s Advice, with lyrics by Stefan Stambolov. We now have two new songs that we shall include in our new album but at this point I wouldn’t want to say anything more. Our lead singer has now recorded the second song. Besides my work as a rock musician, I have been teaching the guitar at a music art centre. I now have around 10 students, the youngest of them is 6 and the oldest – 32. I work with people of all ages who love music. Some come to us because they want to make their lives more interesting others have professional ambitions.”

But how does he shift from rock and metal over to a kind of music that is lyrical and emotional? What kind of atmosphere does he need to be able to compose a symphony work?

“I like to be by myself so as to put the whole stream of ideas I have in my head down on paper; my laptop helps me in the final stretch. I compose symphony music during my summer vacation, it is my way of relaxing. Whatever the musical form I may be working on, I always finish it within a span of two months.”

Vassil and the musicians from Episode are currently presenting the DVD marking the band’s 25^th anniversary. The time he devotes to rock music has not stopped him from taking part in different music competitions. He has reached the finals in a competition for brass band music, named after Diko Iliev twice. His collection of prizes includes an award for active creative endeavour in the Bulgarian National Radio’s Musician of the Year contest.

The audio file features the following works:

-  Kitchitse, buina loboda, a first-night recording;

-  Lullaby, part IV of “The Gold-fingered” suite for kaval and symphony orchestra;

-  Father’s Advice, performed byEpisode.

English version: Milena Daynova