English
With extensive activity as a conductor, violinist and teacher, Nikolay Lalov has accumulated a wealth of experience. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, N.Lalov began studying the violin at the age of six. He completed his studies at the National Music School "L. Pipkov ", which he left with a gold medal for the very high results during his studies. He later graduated from the National Academy of Bulgaria as a violinist and later completed a course in conducting.
N.Lalov is a true ambassador of music and culture, and the musical exchange between different European cultures occupies a prominent place in his work. The desire to present unknown works and composers and to promote a cultural dialogue between countries has led him to bring new works to Portugal and to introduce music from Bulgaria and Portugal across the globe. He organized the first Cultural Week of Portugal in Sofia in 1994, promoting visits by artists from both countries and exchanges between schools of music in Sofia and Évora (Portugal). As a violinist, N.Lalov has recorded for the Bulgarian National Radio and the Portuguese National Radio. He has played in many European countries and has conducted orchestras such as the New Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra, The Portuguese Regional Orchestra of Algrave, The Bulgarian Nacional Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bulgarian Radio National Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Academy Orchestra, the Roma Symphony Orchestra, the Greek State Orchestra of Salonika , the Regional Orchestra of Bari, the National Orchestra of Monterrey ( Mexico), the Nacional Orchestra of Brazil, The National Orchestra of Kharkov (Ukraine), Wuhan Philharmony Orchestra (China), Voivodina Symphony Orchestra (Serbia), Opole Symphony Orchestra (Poland),Volgtland Symphony Orchestra (Germany), National Orchestra of Romania The London Chamber Orchestra, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (USA), the Ensemble of Contemporary Music (Germany), the Chamber Orchestra of Florence among others.
N.Lalov continues to work with young musicians and is regularly invited to conduct master classes of chamber music and violin. He is a great supporter of young artists at the beginning of their artistic career and his students have included winners of prestigious competitions. He is a jury member of national competitions in Portugal and Bulgaria and the author, together with his wife, of the first children's opera composed in Portugal, "Magic Dream".
N.Lalov has been awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit (Oeiras 2003 Portugal) and the Diploma of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (2003). In 2004 he was awarded the Academic title of the Academy of Music in Valencia ( Spain). In 2009 he was awarded the title “ Professional of the Year” by the Rotary Club – Portugal. In 2012 the Orchestra Cascais and Oeiras created by Lalov was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit by the Cascais Town Council.
From 2014, N.Lalov is also Artistic Director of the Cascais Symphony Orchestra. The same year he received “ The Silver Baton” by the Cascais Town Council and became a Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Oeiras.