Roussi Tarmakov (1949–2011) studied at the Higher Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering (today’s Architecture and Civil Engineering University) in Sofia (1967-72). He graduated from the National State Academy of Music in 1980 majoring in Composition under Professor Zdravko Manolov. In 1985, he won a scholarship of the Gaudeamus Foundation (The Netherlands). In 1991, he specialised in the Cite des Arts (Paris). He worked as accompanist at the Ballet School, editor at the Bulgarian National Radio, repertoire director of the State Music Theatre. In 2000, he was appointed music producer at the Bulgarian National Radio. Since 2001, he has lived and worked in Toronto, Canada.
He composed symphonic, chamber instrumental and vocal works; songs; theatre music, etc. His music language focuses on the modal richness of the Bulgarian traditional music, which determine the use of structural, colouristic and other contemporary composition techniques. His music was widely performed in Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. He recorded for the Bulgarian National Radio and Radio Suisse Romande. In addition, his works were performed at authoritative festivals including the Moscow Autumn Festival (1997, 2000), the ISCM World Music Days in Seoul (1997), the Musica Contemporanea Festival in Trieste (1998), the Days of Europe in Bratislava (1998). His music was also often performed during the festivals March Music Days in Ruse, Musica Nova in Sofia, Sofia Music Weeks and Wien Modern in Vienna. His Folk Music for seven instruments won the first prize at the Reine Marie Jose Competition in Geneva (1984).