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The Bulgarian pianist and teacher, Svetla Protich, started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 under Professor Dimitar Nenov, and performed her first solo-recital when she was only 8 years old. At the age of 9 she was offered a membership in the prestigious Bulgarian Union of Performing Artists and Musicians. At 15 she became a full time piano student at the Sofia Conservatory of Music, and graduated from the same school at 20 years old, with honours. She took her Master Degree at the Bucharest Conservatory of Music, with the legendary professor Florica Musicescu (daughter of Moldova-born Romanian composer Gavril Musicescu).
After completing her education, Svetla Protich became an active concert pianist. She was a soloist of the Sofia Philharmony and of several other orchestras, and also performed multiple solo recitals. Her performances were recognized in dozens of countries around the world: the former USSR, France, Italy, Poland, Egypt, Norway, Hungary, former Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, USA, etc. In 1981, she made her solo debut in London at the world famous Wigmore Hall. In the same year, following an invitation from the Austrian Ministry of Culture, Svetla Protich completed a 1-year professional specialization in the music of Mozart and Schubert: stylistical interpretation and performance.
Svetla Protich is currently a professor of piano music at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Kyoto, Japan. Together with her work as a scholar, she continues to perform actively as a soloist of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as chamber music and solo piano recitals.
Svetla Protich recorded with labels such as Harmonia Mundi, Balkanton, Pyramid Records, Nimbus Records, King Records, performing the works of Mozart, Schubert, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, J.S. Bach, etc.
Her distinctions include: 1st place at two Bulgarian National Competitions, and one International Competition (1968 in Moscow, USSR); Laureate of the Order of St.Cyril and St.Methodius for her achievement and contributions to the Bulgarian culture; Silver Lyre award by the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians; prestigious Artist Emeritus title issued by the Government of Republic Bulgaria, for her skilled performances and musical talent; Vega Competition (Takarazuka): member of the jury; Osaka Shanghai Piano Competition (Osaka): member of the jury; International Chamber Music Competition (Osaka): 3 times a member of the critically acclaimed jury presided by Sir Yehudi Menuhin. |
