Kosta Kolev (1921–2010) graduated from the National Academy of Music in 1962. He studied Music Pedagogy, Conducting under Professor Georgi Dimitrov and Composition under Professor Parashkev Hadjiev. Since 1941 he played traditional music on an accordion and made his name as one of the leading traditional music performers. In 1949, he began conducting a small traditional music orchestra. In 1951, he was appointed to conduct the choir and the traditional instruments orchestra at the Ensemble for Traditional Song and Dance at the Bulgarian National Radio.
He composed songs for traditional music choir and orchestra; pieces for solo instrument or voice accompanied by ensemble or orchestra; music to dance shows; suites based on traditional Bulgarian tunes, etc. He noted down and arranged thousands of traditional songs and dances.
His works were recorded at the Bulgarian National Radio and the Bulgarian National Television and released on LP and CD. They were performed by The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices Ensemble as well as by traditional music ensembles in Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Ruse, etc.