STANKOV ENSEMBLE 

The Stankovs are a third generation of musicians rooted in the finest of musical traditions of their native Bulgaria. Since early childhood Ivo and his brother Lachezar have been performing together and alongside their mother Dora (leader of Varna Philharmonic Orchestra) in Europe and in the UK in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall,RAI Amsterdam, and the Festival Hall in Varna (Bulgaria).
 
Aged 15 Ivo moved to Spain where he was selected to become the youngest member of City of Elche Chamber Orchestra. There he met Vania (the assistant leader of the orchestra at the time) whom he married later on. While in Spain they both performed together on a number of occasions as soloists of CECO. Ivo and Vania graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Madrid, and Vania later on decided to pursue further her singing career, graduating from the Royal Opera School in Madrid with the highest marks and qualifications.
 
Vania, Ivo and Lachezar are recipients of many prizes and awards. Finalist of “Premio Caruso” and the “Logroño International Competition”, Vania was also awarded a scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Education, and the “Donizetti award” from the Welsh National Opera School for two consecutive years. Ivo was awarded a full scholarship to do Postgraduate Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His brother Lachezar won prices in competitions in Bulgaria as well as in Romania and the Czech Republic, and was awarded one of the only two full ABRSM Scholarships for overseas students, to study at the Royal College of Music in London.
 
Since settling in the UK, they have performed individually or together to great critical acclaim at all the major chamber music venues in London including the Wigmore Hall, St-Martin-in-The-Fields, the Purcell Room, as well as at the Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall, and Glasgow Concert Hall. They have also performed as soloists with orchestras in the UK and Bulgaria such as Royal Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Sofia Soloists, and Varna Philharmonic.
 
The Stankov Ensemble was officially launched in 2008 as a group specialising in a repertoire from the leading European and American composers of the 20th century, written for this unusual duo (soprano/violin), and trio (soprano/violin/piano) combination. The ensemble has recently performed a number of world premieres dedicated especially to them, by composers such as Martin Georgiev and Gwyn Pritchard. Since its launch, the group has participated in major international festivals in Bulgaria such as “Sofia Music Weeks”, “Varna Summer”, and “Sofia Winter Festival”, as well as performing for a several music clubs and societies in the UK, such as those in Redbridge and Theydon Boys.
 

 PRESS QUOTES: 
 
“The Trio performed the Spanish repertoire with finesse and style – the most memorable of the evening were De Falla’s ‘Seven Popular Songs’, exquisitely performed by Vania and Lachezar Stankov; Ravel’s ‘Tsigane’ where Ivo Stankov’s playing was spirited and temperamental, and Lachezar Stankov’s dazzling performance of ‘Sevilla’ from the Suite ‘España’ by Albeniz. In the arias the singer showed the quality of her voice and the intelligent use of timbre, strength and dynamics. At the end of the concert we heard the Suite ‘España’ by Chabrier arranged for voice, violin and piano – original and effective.”
 
- ‘Kultura’ Newspaper, Sofia