Dobrinka Tabakova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dobrinka Tabakova
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| Born | 1980  Plovdiv
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| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Website | www |
Dobrinka Tabakova is a talented Bulgarian-British composer. She was born in 1980 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Her music is known for being beautiful and often combines old and new styles.
Contents
Early Life and Music Studies
Dobrinka Tabakova was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Her parents, Vassilka and Slavik Tabakov, were both medical physicists. When she was just 14 years old, Dobrinka won a special award called the Jean-Frederic Perrenoud Prize. This was at the 4th International Competition of Music in Vienna.
She moved to London, England, to continue her music education. She studied at Alleyn's School and the Royal Academy of Music. Later, she graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD). She then earned a Ph.D. in composition from King's College. She learned from many great composers, including Simon Bainbridge and Diana Burrell. She also attended special classes with famous composers like John Adams.
A Career in Composing Music
Dobrinka Tabakova has written many pieces of music that have been performed all over the world. In 2002, her piece "Praise" was sung at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. This was part of the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
She has won several awards for her compositions. In 1999, she won the GSMD Lutosławski Composition Prize. In 2007, she received the Adam Prize from King's College London for her song cycle Sonnets to Sundry Notes in Music. In 2011, she won first prize in a choral competition in New York.
Important Music Projects
Many important groups and events have asked Dobrinka Tabakova to write music for them. These include the Royal Philharmonic Society and BBC Radio 3. She also created music for the Cheltenham Music Festival and the Britten Sinfonia. In 2014, her work was featured at the UK New Music Biennial.
Her music has been played at festivals in Britain, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Russia, and across Europe and the United States. She has been a "Composer in Residence" at several festivals. This means she was a special guest composer who worked closely with the musicians. Some of these festivals include the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival and the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival.
Working with Orchestras and Musicians
Dobrinka Tabakova has worked with many famous orchestras. These include the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Her music has been performed by talented soloists. These include the violist Maxim Rysanov and violinists Gidon Kremer and Janine Jansen. Pianist Ivan Yanakov has also performed her works.
Recordings and Awards
Dobrinka Tabakova's music has been released on several record labels. In 2013, ECM Records released an album of her music called String Paths. This album was very popular and reached No.2 on the UK classical music charts. It also received many positive reviews.
String Paths was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. It was nominated in the "Best Classical Compendium" category. This nomination helped the founder of ECM, Manfred Eicher, get a Grammy nomination for "Producer of the Year, Classical."
In 2023, Dobrinka Tabakova won an Ivor Novello Award. This award was for her piece "Swarm Fanfares." She wrote this piece for a youth orchestra. It won the award for Best Community and Participation Composition.
Her music is published by Schott Music, a well-known music publisher.
Selected Musical Works
Dobrinka Tabakova has written music for different groups of instruments and voices.
Orchestral Music
- Concerto for Viola and Strings (2004)
- Schubert Arpeggione Sonata arrangement for string orchestra (2004)
- Suite in Old Style for viola, strings and harpsichord (2004)
- Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music for soprano and orchestra (2006/7)
- Concerto for Cello and Strings (2008)
- Sun Triptych for solo violin, cello and strings (2007–09)
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2010)
- Fantasy homage to Schubert for string orchestra (2013)
Chamber and Solo Instrumental Music
- Modetudes for solo piano (1998)
- In Focus for chamber ensemble (1999)
- Pirin for solo viola (2000)
- Insight for string trio (2002)
- Whispered Lullaby for viola and piano (2004)
- Frozen River Flows for oboe & percussion (2005)
- Such different paths for string septet (2008)
- Suite in Jazz Style for viola and piano (2008)
- Diptych for organ (2009)
- The Smile of the Flamboyant Wings, for string quartet (2010)
Choral Music
- Praise for S.A.T.B. choir and organ (2002)
- Of the Sun Born (От Слънце Родена) for S.A.T.B. choir and soprano solo (2008)
- On the South Downs for solo cello, orchestra and S.A.T.B. choir (2009)
- Syng, hevin imperiall for S.A.T.B. choir and organ (2011)
- Centuries of Meditations for S.A.T.B. choir, string orchestra and harp (2012)
- Alma Redemptoris Mater for S.A.T.B. choir (2014)
- Truro Canticles for S.A.T.B. Choir and organ (2017)
