Grigor Palikarov

GRIGOR PALIKAROV graduated from the School of Music in his native Plovdiv in 1990 majoring in piano with excellent distinction and a gold badge, and later from the Bulgarian National Academy of Music, Sofia, with master degrees in four majors – opera-symphonic conducting, composition, choral conducting and piano. As a student (at the age of twenty-two), he conducted Rigoletto at the opera theatres of Pleven and Stara Zagora. Debuted at the Sofia National Opera and Ballet in 1998, conducting a Gena Dimitrova Gala on her express invitation.  From 2001, he was appointed regular conductor at the Opera. His repertoire encompasses dozens of opera and ballet titles. Grigor Palikarov is a guest-conductor of many orchestras and opera theatres in the country. Among his many conducting performances, a special place is occupied by his numerous studio recordings of various music works with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances on prestigious national and international music festivals. Maestro Palikarov regularly performs on guest tours abroad in countries such as Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the United States, Russia, Slovenia, Poland, Taiwan, Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea. Alongside his conducting activity, Maestro Palikarov also concertizes as pianist and composes.  He authored choral, orchestral and chamber music. Distinguished with the Special Alfred Schnittke Prize for composition of the Young Bulgarian Talents Endowment. (1994). Some of his works have been performed at festivals and repeatedly recorded.