The name of Sofia Quartet is a symbol of quality – a world-class ensemble with numerous performances at home and abroad and a rich discography. Originally founded as a radio quartet at the Bulgarian National Radio, over the years its members have included Vasil Valchev, Nikolay Bespalov, Nikolay Gagov, prof. Dimo Dimov, prof. Angel Stankov, Jeffrey Dean and others.
As of today the Quartet has been renovated today with some of the best instrumentalists in Bulgaria. Present line-up includes Kristina Hinova (first violin, replacing the former primarius of the ensemble Stoimen Peev). She is a graduate of the Vienna Conservatoire, assistant second violin leader of the Sofia Philharmonic and the first woman to join the quartet in over 40 years. Yordan Dimitrov (second violin in the quartet) is concertmaster of the Sofia Soloists. Lyubomir Nikov (cello) is the concertmaster of the Sofia Philharmonic, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Valentin Gerov, the doyen of the ensemble, is Bulgaria’s first viola. He is also the leader of the viola section of the SIF 309 orchestra for film music recordings.
Hailed by the press as a natural successor to the Avramov and Dimov quartets in the Bulgarian tradition of quartet art, the Sofia Quartet has established itself as a leading chamber ensemble, winning the acclaim of audiences, media and critics. Its repertoire consists of classical Viennese and modern music pieces, some of which were commissioned especially for it. Most of the works in the Sofia Quartet’s repertoire have been shown on National Television and recorded by the Bulgarian National Radio, and many of their studio recordings have been released on CD in Bulgaria, Greece and Japan. The musicians have given world premieres of a number of new works composed especially for the Sofia Quartet: three quartets each by Alexander Popov, Mihail Pekov and Tsenko Minkin, a work by Tatsuya Koumadzaki and four string quartets by the famous Greek composer Dimitris Temelis. The ensemble’s overseas concert activity spans across Europe and Asia. Numerous awards have been won in recognition of the ensemble’s bright talent and high professionalism. In 2012 the quartet gave a concert at the Autumn Music Festival in Skopje, from where the musicians returned with an honorary award “Diploma for Excellence in the Presentation of Bulgarian Art”. In October 2011 they received the annual award Bulgarian Awakeners of the Young Bulgarian Talents Foundation. A great recognition for the intensive concert activity and high performance achievements of Sofia Quartet is the highest musical award in Bulgaria – Crystal Lyre of the Union of Music and Dance Artists in Bulgaria for 2004. In 2017 the ensemble received the national award Golden Quartet named after Acad. Marin Goleminov. On 24 May 2018 the Sofia Quartet was awarded the Golden Quill Award for contribution to Bulgarian culture.