Vassilena Serafimova is a Bulgarian classical music artist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances on the marimba and percussion instruments. Born on May 21, 1982, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Serafimova grew up in a family of musicians. Her father, Stoyan Serafimov, is a renowned percussionist and her mother, Maria Serafimova, is a pianist. From a young age, Serafimova showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Serafimova's parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue music seriously. She began studying percussion at the National School of Music "Lyubomir Pipkov" in Sofia, where she was trained by her father. She later continued her studies at the National Academy of Music "Pancho Vladigerov" in Sofia, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance. In 2005, Serafimova moved to Paris to further her studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. There, she studied under the guidance of renowned percussionists such as Jean Geoffroy and Emmanuel Séjourné. She received a Master's degree in Percussion Performance in 2008. Serafimova's talent and hard work paid off when she won several prestigious awards and competitions. In 2001, she won first prize at the International Percussion Competition in Luxembourg. She also won first prize at the International Marimba Competition in Linz, Austria, in 2006. In 2007, she won the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship, which allowed her to continue her studies in Paris. Serafimova's career as a professional musician began to take off after she won the ARD International Music Competition in Munich in 2013. This competition is one of the most prestigious music competitions in the world, and Serafimova was the first percussionist to win the top prize in its history. Her performance of "Velocities" by Joseph Schwantner was praised by the judges for its technical brilliance and musicality. Since then, Serafimova has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Carnegie Hall in New York. She has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and Zubin Mehta. She has also performed with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Serafimova's repertoire includes a wide range of classical and contemporary music, and she is known for her innovative and experimental approach to percussion music. She has commissioned and premiered works by contemporary composers such as Thierry De Mey, Philippe Manoury, and Eric Sammut. She has also arranged and transcribed works by classical composers such as Bach, Ravel, and Debussy for the marimba. In addition to her career as a performer, Serafimova is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has given masterclasses and workshops at some of the world's leading music schools, including the Juilliard School in New York, the Royal College of Music in London, and the Tokyo University of the Arts. She is also a professor of percussion at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Serafimova's talent and dedication to her craft have earned her numerous accolades and awards.

More....