Fanny Koutzarova - Concert pianist, Chamber musician, Piano teacher and Artistic Director
Fanny Koutzarova is a concert pianist, piano teacher, chamber musician, and Artistic Director of the “Musical Zografi” Festival, with more than 30 years of active concert, pedagogical, and artistic experience. Her professional work brings together the concert stage, chamber music, music education, and the creation of cultural spaces dedicated to young talents and artistic dialogue.
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Fanny Koutzarova began her piano education at the age of five under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. Lidia Kuteva. In 1990, she graduated from the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov”, where she studied with distinguished musicians and pedagogues including Prof. Bogomil Starshenov, Prof. Lyuba Encheva, Prof. Milena Mollova, and Assoc. Prof. Georgita Boyadzhieva in chamber music.
In 1996, she completed her Master’s degree at the National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” in the class of Prof. Milena Mollova. She specialized in chamber music under Prof. Victor Chuchkov and participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists Prof. Vera Gornostaeva and Prof. Oxana Yablonskaya, as well as a chamber music masterclass led by Prof. Constantino Mastropremiani.
From an early age, the concert stage became a natural part of her artistic path. She gave her first solo recital at the age of twelve and, only a year later, performed with the orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio, conducted by Kamen Goleminov.
Throughout her career, Fanny Koutzarova has maintained an active concert life as both a soloist and predominantly a chamber musician, presenting premiere performances of Bulgarian, Swedish, Dutch, and Jewish music. In 1997, the Bulgarian National Radio recorded her performance of “Unknown Bulgarian Music” by Vasil Bozhinov and Menahem Bensusan, marking its Bulgarian premiere.
Her artistic activity includes numerous recordings for the Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, TV 1, Classic FM, Jazz FM, 7 Dni Television, and other media, alongside participation in diverse chamber projects and international concert formats.
In 2002, together with pianist Polina Antonova, she founded a piano duo that recorded the album “Contemporary Bulgarian Intonations” and regularly participated in the “New Bulgarian Music” Festival. The duo received an international award in 2003, while the project gained support from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. Together with composer Simo Lazarov, they also created Bulgaria’s first multimedia light performance for two pianos and computer-processed sound.
In 2003, Fanny Koutzarova and classical guitarist Rosen Balkanski established the chamber ensemble Duo FaRo (piano/harpsichord and classical guitar). In 2004, they introduced for the first time in Bulgaria the unusual format of harpsichord and classical guitar duo, while their debut concert “Baroque Music” at the prestigious Bulgaria Concert Hall was recorded by the Bulgarian National Radio.
Since 2007, the musicians have been among the featured artists of FM Classic and regular participants in festivals including “Sofia Chamber Scene”, “Music in the Palace”, “New Bulgarian Music”, and other notable cultural forums in Bulgaria and abroad.
The duo’s repertoire spans works from different styles and historical periods, while their concert activity includes performances in Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and other countries. In 2008, they released their first CD “The Duo”.
Since 2008, Fanny Koutzarova has collaborated actively with clarinetist Ventsislav Trifonov, presenting concerts, thematic programmes, and European tours. Later joined by cellist Stanislav Ushinkin, the ensemble launched the project “Timelessness”, dedicated to Astor Piazzolla, introducing a unique chamber interpretation of his music to Bulgarian audiences.
Alongside her concert career, Fanny Koutzarova has developed an extensive piano teaching practice. She prepares students for admission to the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov”, international certifications, competitions, and concert performances. Between 2005 and 2009, she taught piano at the same institution, where her students became laureates of national and international competitions.
In 2022, she became the first artist in Bulgaria to release a triple CD dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, featuring the Two-Part Inventions, French Suites, Italian Concerto, and Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother.
In 2024, together with the young gadulka virtuoso Martin Vladimirov, she recorded the album “Universe” featuring the three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord by Bach, recorded at Studio One of the Bulgarian National Radio. The project was later presented through a multidisciplinary concert performance at Sofia Live Club, featuring artist Rumen Statkov and clarinetist Ventsislav Trifonov. The following year, they formed an innovative chamber trio of clarinet, gadulka, and piano, developing an active concert programme in Bulgaria and abroad.
In collaboration with artist Rumen Statkov, Fanny Koutzarova has developed the projects “Piazzolla and Something More”, “Magic of Images and Sounds”, and “Contrasts”, presented in major Bulgarian cities and across European cultural venues.
In 2024, Fanny Koutzarova became the founder and Artistic Director of the “Musical Zografi” Festival - an international festival dedicated to chamber music, young talents, cultural exchange, and the encounter between different forms of art. The festival’s first edition took place at the Sea Casino Cultural Centre in Burgas, establishing a new cultural platform with the mission of connecting artists, audiences, and generations.
Today, Fanny Koutzarova continues to combine concert performance, piano teaching, chamber music, and the artistic organisation of cultural projects, working with dedication toward music education, artistic growth, and the creation of meaningful cultural dialogue.
Photo: Radila Radilova
