Biography

Press

“I had the pleasure of playing with Ivo at a charity event in September 2009. Ivo's playing was excellent and he was a pleasure to work with.”

Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits

“Stunning Virtuoso solo…”

Evening Herald

“...the performance of Janacek's violin sonata excellently reflected the music's restless and wayward moods...Falla's Spanish dance was spirited...the long unaccompanied solo of Ravel's Tzigane was Stankov's best playing of the evening, projecting considerable intensity whilst also suggesting something of Gypsy spontaneity.”

Musical Opinion

Ivo Stankov has become one of Bulgaria's leading and most versatile artists of his generation.

Described as "a stunning virtuoso" he has captivated audiences in the UK and in Europe with his "commanding" style and "spirited" performances. He has collaborated with international artists such as Sir Cliff Richards and Mark Knopfler who states that "Ivo's playing was excellent and he was a pleasure to work with". Today Ivo is equally at home as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and educator.

As a soloist he has performed with the English Chamber Orchestra, and with some of Bulgaria's most established orchestras such as Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra and Varna Philharmonic, under the baton of internationally acclaimed young Bulgarian conductors such as Martin Georgiev and Yordan Kamdzhalov.

Aged fourteen, Ivo made his solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall and Glasgow Concert Hall with the New English Orchestra, as part of New Year's Eve Celebrations with Sir Cliff Richard in 1991. He returned at the Royal Albert Hall in 2003 as soloist with the All Souls Orchestra, and since then established a close partnership with the orchestra performing in venues such as Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), De Montfort Hall (Leicester), St George's Hall (Bradford), and on tours abroad.

As a recitalist and chamber musician Ivo has performed in all major chamber music venues in London, including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, the South Bank, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St. John's Smith Square, St. James's Piccadilly, and also at Westminster Parliament, the RAI Congress Centre (Amsterdam), and the Bulgaria National Hall. In 2006 he made his critically acclaimed debut at the Wigmore Hall in London, and performed there again in 2007, alongside pianist Ivo Varbanov. He also performed a recital at the Bulgaria National Hall in Sofia under the patronage of the Bulgarian president, with a subsequent broadcast on national TV and Radio.

Ivo is regularly leading a number of ensembles and orchestras such as The London Ensemble, Premiere String Quartet, and Iskra String Quartet, which is collaborating with many leading artists and composers from the contemporary 'world music' scene. Ivo has also been invited as a guest leader of the Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Independent Opera at Sadler's Wells, Schomberg String Quartet, and the London Schubert Players.

Press

“...Exceptionally interesting programme...a really good performance... Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar brought the recital to a close in commanding style.”

Musical Opinion

“Spirited performance…”

Edinburgh Evening News

“Some virtuoso playing…”

IC Wales

“Injected passion and energy into the rest of a varied programme…”

This is Wiltshire

Ivo's studies initially took place at "Dobri Hristov School of Music and Arts" in his hometown Varna. Aged 15 he moved to Spain where he was selected to become the youngest member of City of Elche Chamber Orchestra, and later graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Madrid. While in Spain he performed frequently both as soloist and as a leader of City of Elche Orchestra, Baroque Orchestra Valencia and Barvinski Camerata, and has recorded on numerous occasions for the Spanish TV and Radio.

Ivo moved to the UK in 2000, where he was awarded a full scholarship from Flame Trust to do his Postgraduate studies with Erich Gruenberg at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He is a recipient of a number of scholarships and awards including the Honors Diploma Award from the Royal Conservatoire in Madrid, and a chamber music residency at the Banff Centre of Arts in Canada.

In 2008 Ivo formed the "Stankov Ensemble" along with his wife the soprano Vania Vatralova-Stankov, and his brother the pianist Lachezar Stankov. They perform as either Duo (soprano/violin), or Trio (soprano/violin/piano) lesser known chamber works from the European and American composers of the 20th and 21st Century. The ensemble has recently made a number of World premieres dedicated especially to them, by composers such as Martin Georgiev, Dobrinka Tabakova, and Gwyn Pritchard. In 2009 and 2010 the "Stankov Ensemble" also has participated under critical acclaim in the major International Festivals in Bulgaria such as "Varna Summer", "Sofia Winter Festival", and "Sofia Music Weeks".

In addition to his busy performing career Ivo holds teaching positions at James Allen's Girls School (JAGS), JASSPA, and Cameron House School. He is also a violin tutor with the South London Youth Orchestra.

Particularly interested in the propagation of Bulgarian music abroad, Ivo founded the London Festival of Bulgarian Culture which celebrated its first edition in November 2010 with great success. For his contribution to the popularization of Bulgarian culture in the UK Ivo was awarded the Silver medal by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He plays on 1787 Gagliano violin, kindly lent to him by the Independent Opera at Sadler's Wells.

Ivo is married to Vania and they have a two year old son named Theodore.