Prof. Karafezliev is among the well-known Bulgarian trombone musicians - both as a performing artist and a teacher. His education is closely related to brass music since the beginning: he graduated from National School of Music and Stage Arts in Burgas and National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov'' in Sofia. Prof. Karafezliev’s career started in 1991 at the Symphony orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio. He continues to work there as a leading brass section trombone player for almost 30 years. He made more than 200 records in contemporary and classical music for the BNR. His teaching career started in 1994 at the National School of Music “Lubomir Pipkov” in Sofia, as well as at the Instrumental Faculty of National Academy of Music. Since 2020 prof. Karafezliev is Head of the Chamber Music Department at Instrumental faculty of the Academy. He has numerous awards from national and international competitions both as a solo trombone player and as a member of different brass ensembles. He is an initiator and a Head of the Summer Academy for Brass Ensembles in Koprivshtitsa. His mission is to promote Bulgarian brass music on a national and international level. His new album "The Bulgarian Trombone. 22 Years Later" dedicated to the conntemporary music BG was published for digital distribution in December 2022.
Georgi Velev
Deputy Chairman of the Board
His education and career are very closely related to his favourite brass instrument - the trumpet. G. Velev graduated from the National School of Music “Lubomir PIpkov” and the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”. His career started in 1992 at SIF 309 Orchestra, specializing in the recording of music for film, which is one of his major focuses. Between 1992 and 1994 he was a trumpet player at Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. Then from 1997 to 1998 he was a soloist at the Symphony Orchestra of BNR. Back in 1991 Georgi Velev was among the founders of the famous Bulgarian jazz pop band AKAGA with 6 albums released and more than 2000 concerts played around the country and Europe including places like Helsinki and Moscow. The band has a lot of successful performances at jazz specific scenes including Montreux Jazz Fest in Switzerland, Nisville Jazz Fest, Serbia, Klaipeda Jazz Fest in Lithuania, Eurosonic, Apolonia Arts Festival and Bansko Jazz Fest in Bulgaria. In 2021, AKAGA celebrates their 30 years anniversary with a series of music events around the country. A special documentary will be released about the band in the Spring of 2022, co-produced by the Bulgarian National Television. Georgi Velev composes music for short Bulgarian films and documentaries such as Monkey, Lora from Sunrise to Sunset, Homo Ludens, Open Files, Albena, Shopping etc.
Kristina Dencheva
Member of the Board
She is a special events manager, PR specialist, music critic, journalist and an editor. Graduated from the National School of Music “Lubomir PIpkov” and the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” with piano, musical analysis and music history. She is specialised in BTL advertising, copyright, special events and PR for arts whilst also working for international advertising networks in Germany, Serbia and Bulgaria. Former editor-in-chief for New Moment New Idea Magazine BG and DHL Clients Magazine BG. From 2007 to 2011 she was also an Executive Director of the Finnish Opera Festival Operosa Euxinograd for Bulgaria and Serbia. Since 2014 she is a PR & Communications Manager, and Senior Events Coordinator of the Bulgarian Music Association. Since 2018 - author and editor-in-chief of the unique Bulgarian online project called See The Music, dedicated to rising stars of the 21st century’s Bulgarian music stage. She is dedicated to their innovative art projects in the country and around Europe including contemporary music criticism. Since 2020 Kristina Dencheva has been an Events Coordinator and PR Manager of the Summer Academy for Brass Ensembles and Percussion in Koprivshtitsa. Author and editor-in-chief of online project Brass Stories, supported by the National Fund of Culture of Republic of Bulgaria 2021. Artistic director of Brass Perspectives Association BG.
Krassimir Kirilov
Founding Member
Well known with his nickname Jojo from AKAGA, Krassimir started his music education with learning drums and mandolin, followed by piano and accordion. He graduated from the National School of Arts "Panayot Pipkov'' in Pleven with a trombone and immediately started his career as a soloist at the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra. Krassimir Kirilov also graduated from the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”. In 1991 he worked as a second lead soloist of the trombone group of the Symphony Orchestra at the Bulgarian National Radio. Between 1992 and 1994 he was a member of the famous Bulgarian student TV show “Ku-ku band”. During the same period he was a soloist - first trombone at the Academic Trombone Ensemble "Ilia Nenov". He played at the orchestra SIF 309 and together they participated in numerous film music recordings for Bulgarian and foreign productions. Since 1994 till this day, Krassimir Kirilov is a member of famous Bulgarian jazz pop band AKAGA with 6 albums released and more than 2000 concerts played in the country and around Europe. Since March 2021 he has been a trombonist at the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra. Krassimir has numerous awards from national and international competitions both as a member of different brass ensembles and as a solo performer.
Emil - George Atanassov
Founding Member
His career is dedicated to the contemporary trombone instrument and its charming ancestor - the sackbut. Emil - George graduated at the National School of Music “Lubomir PIpkov” in the class of the famous trombone player and teacher Dobrin Ivanov. He continued his education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK. Then he graduated from the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in Bulgaria. Emil - George has played in different symphony orchestras including King's College London Symphony Orchestra and Ruskin University Orchestra in Cambridge. Since 2018 he has been a soloist at the Sofia National Opera and Ballet. Emil - George discovered his passion for teaching and made his first steps in this direction in Every Child Music Service and Borough Music School programme in London. In 2020 he was an assistant professor at the Summer Academy for Brass Ensembles and Percussion in Koprivshtitsa.