Instrumentalist, conductor and composer Martin Georgiev grew up in the Black Sea port town of Varna where music turned into the meaning of his life. Thus Martin graduated the Dobri Hristov National Art School.

“Being a percussionist, I had the chance to play with the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra as of the age of 12”, the musician says. “I gained valuable experience over that period. Then I got into the Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy where I studied percussions, conducting and composition. I won the ABRSM International Scholarship with the Royal Academy of Music and so I went to London. I was taught conducting there by Sir Colin Davis, Colin Metters and George Hurst. I don’t have much time for playing over the past years, but I do not forget about percussions. I have already composed three concerts for percussions and orchestra. These instruments have recently and gradually turned into solo instruments as well and that is why those need a repertoire to be created for them. I’m working on several projects of that kind now.”

Martin has been an assistant conductor at the Royal Ballet with the Covent Garden Royal Opera House in London as of 2013.

“Ballet has recently taken a particularly important place in my world – it is the kind of art that gives me a different perspective of popular works. No matter that a large number of those are well-known /for instance the Nutcracker/, the Royal Ballet shows the best in a traditional and perfect manner. I do enjoy my work there. The shows are precise, detailed and highly professional. This process affects my efforts as a composer as well, since viewers tend to look at the spectacular side of a show these days. We tend to forget that much more impressive results can be achieved with more elementary tools. I have been conducting at the Covent Garden for three seasons now and I am still that impressed and inspired. As far as 2015 is concerned – no immediate plans, I try to develop all the opportunities provided in both composing and conducting. The premiere of a new ballet is forthcoming, choreographed by Ewan McGregor and with the music of Max Richter. As a musician I find it important to separate conducting from composing. These things are definitely different, requiring a different way of thinking. When one outlines the border, one gets much more productive, avoiding a certain type of fatigue that tends to accumulate in time.”

Martin Georgiev is one of the few composers who can say that they have composed an opera before their 30^th anniversary. It is named The Mirror. Martin has been composing for different music festivals for years. Thus his works travel around the globe in the rendition of prestigious orchestras. String Quartet No1 is one of them, performed by the Frosh String Orchestra.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev