Yavor Petkov is a Bulgarian classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a pianist, conductor, and composer. Born on May 5, 1985, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Petkov showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He was a prodigious talent and quickly gained recognition for his exceptional musical abilities. Petkov's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began taking piano lessons with renowned Bulgarian pianist and pedagogue, Prof. Milena Mollova, at the National School of Music "Lyubomir Pipkov" in Sofia. Petkov's talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly became one of the school's most promising students. In 2003, Petkov was accepted into the National Academy of Music "Pancho Vladigerov" in Sofia, where he studied piano with Prof. Milena Mollova and conducting with Prof. Vassil Kazandjiev. During his time at the academy, Petkov won numerous awards and competitions, including the National Piano Competition "Svetoslav Obretenov" and the National Conducting Competition "Dobrin Petkov." After graduating from the National Academy of Music in 2008, Petkov continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg, Germany, where he studied piano with Prof. Volker Banfield and conducting with Prof. Eiji Oue. During his time in Hamburg, Petkov won the prestigious "Hochschulpreis" award for outstanding achievement in piano performance. Petkov's career as a pianist took off after he won the First Prize at the International Piano Competition "Citta di Barletta" in Italy in 2010. This was a major turning point in his career, and he began to receive invitations to perform at major concert halls and festivals around the world. Petkov has performed as a soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed at major festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, the Lucerne Festival, and the Verbier Festival. In addition to his career as a pianist, Petkov is also an accomplished conductor. He has conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as the principal conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. Petkov is also a prolific composer, and his works have been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles. His compositions are known for their innovative use of harmony and rhythm, and they have been praised for their emotional depth and expressive power. Throughout his career, Petkov has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 2015, he was awarded the Order of Stara Planina, one of Bulgaria's highest honors, for his outstanding achievements in music. He has also been awarded the "Musician of the Year" award by the Bulgarian National Radio and the "Young Artist of the Year" award by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. Petkov continues to be an active performer, conductor, and composer, and he is widely regarded as one of the most talented and innovative classical musicians of his generation.

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