He was born in Shumen – a town with long-standing traditions in theatre, music and literature. After graduating piano and composition from the Academy of Music and Performing Art in Vienna, he returned to Bulgaria in the 1930s to join the musical life of the capital city Sofia.

Veselin Stoyanov is among the founders of the Society of Bulgarian composers called “Contemporary music”, established in 1933. He lectured at the National Academy of Music, became professor of composition and musical forms in 1945, and was later dean of the theory faculty, and from 1956 until 1962 – rector of the Academy. Veselin Stoyanov has left us an array of different works – for symphony orchestra, instrumental concertos, operas, chamber and vocal works.