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

Described by the press as “a stunning virtuoso” he has captivated audiences in the UK and in Europe with his “commanding” style and “spirited” performances. He is equally at home as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and educator.

As a soloist he has performed in the UK with the English Chamber Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, and has recently recorded a CD of Mendelssohn's violin and piano concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed with orchestras in Italy, Germany, USA, and Brazil, and with most of the orchestras in his native Bulgaria such as Sofia Philharmonic and Sofia Soloists.

As a recitalist and chamber musician Ivo has also performed at all major chamber music venues in London, such as Wigmore Hall, King’s Place, the South Bank, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and also at Westminster Parliament, the RAI Congress Centre (Amsterdam), and Bulgaria National Hall. He has collaborated with international artists such as Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, the film composer Johann Johannsson (Theory of Everything), Chilingirian Quartet, pianist Ashley Wass, cellists Guy Johnston and Stefan Popov.

He has also performed at many of UK’s concert halls such as Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Glasgow Concert Hall, Cadogan Hall, Queen Elisabeth Hall, and the Barbican.

Ivo has made a number of recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio. His debut CD album of Beethoven’s violin sonatas was described as “an excellent record” and was awarded five stars by Britain’s oldest classical music magazine Musical Opinion.

As a founder of “Stankov Ensemble” he has premiered a number of works by leading British and Bulgarian composers such as Grammy - nominated Dobrinka Tabakova. He also premiered in London the violin concerto ‘Phantasmagorias’ written by Gheorghi Arnaoudov.

Ivo is the leader of Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra and Iskra String Quartet, and is in addition regularly leading a number of ensembles in London. He has also been invited as a guest leader of the Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Independent Opera at Sadler's Wells, and the London Schubert Players.

Ivo is currently a Violin professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (Junior department), St. Paul's Girls School, and the Whitgift School where he is coaching on a special programme for gifted music scholars, and is also a violin tutor with the South London Youth Orchestra. He is regularly invited as a jury member of competitions for young performers and also is giving Master Classes internationally.

Particularly interested in the propagation of Bulgarian music abroad Ivo founded the London Festival of Bulgarian Culture. Its four extremely successful editions (featuring special guest stars such as Nigel Kennedy) led to Ivo being awarded the Silver medal by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gold Medal ‘Boris Hristov’ and the 'Golden Sign' Medal of King Simeon by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture.

Ivo graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where he studied with Eric Gruenberg.

His forthcoming engagements in 2019/2020 include concerto appearances, Master classes and adjudicating competitions in Bulgaria, Montenegro, Moldova, UK, Brazil, and the USA.

Ivo plays on 1787 Gagliano violin.