Daniela Dikova

Pianist Dr. Daniela Dikova is a dynamic and versatile musician, committed to performing and teaching in the full spectrum of collaborative musical genres.

Dr. Dikova is an Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano in the Chamber Music and Accompaniment Department at the National Academy of Music – Prof. Pancho Vladigerov and has been the staff pianist for the Violin Department at the same institution since 1988. Her extensive chamber music experience includes performances in various chamber formations with partners like clarinetist Petko Radev, violinist Ginka Gichkova, cellists Stefan Popov, Gavriel Lipkind and Angela Park, soprano Elena Baramova. Dr. Dikova is a sought-after accompanist for all international and national competitions held in Bulgaria. She has participated in the same capacity also at the “Belvedere” - Vienna, the “Tchaikovsky” – Moscow, “A.Popa” – Romania, “Rai Uno” – Italy and others.

In 2004, after many years of duo collaboration with the American cellist Geoffrey Dean, she became the founder of the “Ardenza” Trio, bringing in violinist Galina Koycheva. In 2009, the ensemble was given the “Crystal Lira” award by the Bulgarian Union of Musicand Dance Artists. In 2008, Ardenza Foundation (www.ardenzamusic.org) was born, where Dr. Dikova acts as the Executive Director. She is also the founder and artistic director of “VIVAPIANO” – International Competition for Non-Professional Pianists, the first of its kind on the Balkans. For that, in 2012 she was presented by Classic FM Radio and the Sofia Municipality with the “Golden Feather” award for her considerable contributionto Bulgarian arts and culture. The Ethno Workshop/Festival “Rila Music Exchange” and “ARTdenzieta” – a creative arts after school program – are projects through which she explores interdisciplinary collaborations among artists.

Dr. Dikova has been a jury member for national and international competitions:“Lake Pearls” – Struga, Macedonia 2013, 2014 and “Hot Heart” – Moscow 2014. She has made numerous recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio and Television, andperformed at concerts in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Korea and othercountries. In 2014 she released her first CD, titled “Nani-nani”, with lullabies for piano by Bulgarian composers, followed in 2016 by “Lullabies for violin and piano” together with violinist Daniela Shtereva.