A seminar on performance practice in Bulgarian music with Nedko Bogdanov and Nedyalko Nedyalkov.
Workshop
Instructors:
Nedko Bogdanov, accordion
Nedyalko Nedyalkov, kaval
The two soloists present a seminar on performance practice in Bulgarian music, with particular emphasis on its distinctive melismatic and ornamental features. The workshop is open to accordionists and to any interested musician.
Maximum number of participants: 15
Date: Saturday 28 November
Time: 16:30–19:30
Venue: Refugee Museum, Sykies Cultural Neighbourhood (49 Evrou St, Sykies) – Map
Admission: €30 / €25 reduced (students, unemployed, disabled persons) for the Saturday workshops (28.11)
By bus: line 28B, stop “Astynomia”, opposite the VAO ground.
Registration: ⟦FILL IN: registration email or form⟧
Biographies
Nedko Bogdanov
Nedko Bogdanov (b. 1974) is an acclaimed Bulgarian accordionist, arranger, and performer, celebrated for his distinctive musical voice and deep connection to the rich Thracian folk tradition.
Trained at the prestigious Philip Koutev National School for Folk Arts in Kotel, where he studied the kaval, Nedko ultimately devoted himself to the accordion—his lifelong passion. His exceptional sense of harmony and remarkable improvisational and arranging skills have made his sound instantly recognizable.
Throughout his career, he has performed and recorded with leading Bulgarian folk musicians and ensembles, including Mladi Trakiytshi, Bogdan Trio Plus, Petar Ralchev, Toncho Tonev, Nedyalko Nedyalkov, and Temelko Ivanov. His music has been presented internationally in Austria and Croatia, including at the EBU International Festival in Opatija.
In 2026, Nedko graduated from Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv. His artistry bridges tradition and contemporary expression, bringing the vibrant spirit of Bulgarian folk music to audiences beyond Bulgaria.
Nedyalko Nedyalkov
Nedyalko Nedyalkov is a master of the kaval and one of the most distinctive voices of contemporary Bulgarian folk music. Rooted in an ancient tradition yet uncompromisingly individual in his expression, he has transformed the kaval into a powerful instrument of virtuosity, emotion, and improvisation.
A soloist with the Bulgarian National Radio Folk Orchestra and professor of kaval at the National Academy of Music in Sofia, Nedyalkov has captivated audiences at major festivals and concert stages across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
His remarkable artistic journey includes collaborations with internationally acclaimed musicians and ensembles, as well as a Grammy Award in 2011 for his participation in Jordi Savall’s Dinastia Borgia.
With his unmistakable tone and profound understanding of Bulgarian musical tradition, Nedyalkov creates a compelling dialogue between heritage and contemporary expression—bringing the soul of Bulgarian folklore to the world stage.
