About us

Boika Mihaylova Velkova

actress

Graduated from:
National Academy for Film and Theatre Arts – Sofia
Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute – New York
Ballet School

More important roles in the theater:

• Violet – August: Osage County by Tracy Letts, directed by Yasen Peyankov
• Agafya Tikhonovna – Marriage by N. V. Gogol, directed by St. Kambarev
• Elena Andreeva – Uncle Vanya by A. P. Chekhov, directed L. Heyfets
• Olga – Three Sisters by A. P. Chekhov, directed by St. Kambarev
• Estelle – Behind closed doors (No exit) by Sartre, directed by E. Tsankova
• Tamar – Yonadav by Shaffer, director Z. Mitkov
• Viola – Twelfth night by Shakespeare, directed by S. Shkarov
• May – Fool for love by Shepherd, directed by St. Kambarev
• Sveta – Love by Petrushevska, directed by St. Kambarev
• Joan of Arc – Joan of Arc by Minkov, directed by D. Pophristov
• Madame Therbouche – The Libertine by Schmidt, directed by St. Kambarev
• Ana – Closer by P. Marber, directed by Pl. Markov
• Ruth – The Forest by D. Mamet, directed by Il. Bekirov
• Miss Robinson – The Graduate by Jones, directed by Iv. Hristov
• Martha – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Albee, directed by L. Todorov
• French Princess – Love’s Labours Lost by Shakespeare, directed Z. Mitkov
• Mrs. Cheveley – An Ideal Husband by O. Wilde, directed by St. Kambarev
• Abby – The Mercy Seat by Neil LaBute, directed by Snezhina Tankovska
• Mrs. Banks – Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon, directed by Ivaylo Hristov
• Arcadina – Seagull by A. P. Chekhov, directed by Krikor Azaryan
• Blanche du Bois – Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by Krikor Azaryan
• Stevey – The Goat or Who is Sylvia? by Edward Albee, directed by Yavor Gurdev
• Jenny – Love Nr. 2 by the Neil Simon, directed by Ivaylo Hristov

More important roles in movies:

• The Boyana Master – directed by Z. Shandov
• Yo-ho-ho – directed by Zako Heskia
• The Bird – directed by Galia Kraleva
• Ice Dream – directed by Ivan Georgiev
• Church for Wolves – directed by Nicholay Lambrev
• My friends call me Uncle – directed by Ivaylo Hristov
• The Uncle – directed by Z. Kasamanova
• The Island – directed by Kamen Kalev

Skills:

Piano, ballet (tap, modern dance, folklore, historic dance), horseback riding, fencing

Awards:

• Best Supporting Actress Award by the Film Makers – 2012 for the movie The Island – directed by Kamen Kalev
• III Award for Best Actress at the Bulgarian Drama and Theater Festival in 1989 for the role of Joan of
• Arc in Joan of Arc by Margarit Minkov and Atanaska in Dream by Ivan Radoev, directed by Simeon Dimitrov
• Award for Best Actress by the UBA in 1999 for Three Sisters by A. P. Chekhov, directed by St. Kambarev
• First Prize on the Festival of Chamber Theatre – city of Vratsa in 1999 for the role of Estelle in Behind Closed Doors (No Exit) by Sartre, directed by E. Tsankova
• Award for Best Actress at the Festival in Blagoevgrad in 2000 for the role of Olga in Three Sisters by A. P. Chekhov, directed by St. Kambarev and for the role of Elena Andreeva in Uncle Vanya by A. P. Chekhov, directed by Leonid Heyfets
• Askeer in 2000, for Best Actress for the role of Elena Andreeva in Uncle Vanya by A. P. Chekhov, directed by Leonid Heyfets
• Askeer in 2005 for Best Actress for the role of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate by T. Jones, directed by Ivaylo Hristov
• Nomination for Best Actress by UAB in 2007 for the part in Streetcar Named Desire by T. Williams – the Bulgarian Army Theatre
• Award for Best Actress by UAB in 2008 for the part in The Seagull by A. P. Chekhov – Arcadina, directed by Krikor Azaryan – the Bulgarian Army Theatre
• Nominated for Askeer in 2011 for Best Actress for the role of Violet in August: Osage County

Theodosii Spassov

Theodosii Spassov was born on March 4th, 1961. He began his early training on the kaval at the Kotel Music School and The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv/Bulgaria. The kaval, an eight-hole wooden “shepherd” flute, is one of the oldest Instruments in Europe, rich in tone and technical possibilities. Theodosii Spassov has developed his own unique style of playing the instrument by synthesizing traditional folklore with jazz, fusion and classical music.

For over 20 years, Theodosii has toured all over Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and United States. In 1994, he performed with Sofia Women’s Radio Choir which was awarded with a Grammy award for “Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares”. In April of 1995, “Newsweek” magazine recognized Theodosii Spassov as one of the most talented Eastern-European musicians in its “best of the East” article, noting that “Spassov… is not merely surviving the post-communist cultural wasteland. He has actually invented a new musical genre.”

Theodosii Spassov has contributed to 20 CDs, four of his own, which have been noted worldwide. He has composed and performed numerous film scores including a French-Bulgarian feature film “Granitza”, (”The Border”) 1993. Also he recorded themes for films by Italian composers Carlos Siliotto and Ennio Morricone, entitled “An Italian Story” and “The Breakout of the Innocent”. At the fourth European Jazz Night, Theodosii Spassov was a featured performer along with other jazz musicians, including Winton Marsalis.

At home in Bulgaria, Theodosii Spassov is national figure and musical hero, and was recently honored with the”Music Artist of the Year” award. He is the Artistic Director of the world-renown “PHILIP KOUTEV Ensemble Of Music, Drama And Dance”.

Theodosii is currently member of the company of the Irish music and dance “Riverdance”-(1998-2001). Now hi is a soloist of Bulgarian National Radio.

Training:

The Music School in Kotel The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv

Fellow artists he worked with:

Jazz Linia, “Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares”, Trio “Bulgarka”, National Radio Sofia Orchestras, Ivo Papazov, Yldiz Ibrahimova, Vesselin Nikolov, Milcho Leviev, Acoustic Version, Dave Liebman, Dimitrios Vassilakis, Andy Sheppard, Jamey Haddad, Albert Mangelsdorf, Mark Johnson, Trilok Gurtu, Kazumi Watanabe, Glen Velez, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Matt Darriau, Boyan Zulfikarpasic, Dionisis Savopulos, Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, Billy Cobham, Ennio Morricone

Concerts as a soloist in:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Israel, Japan, Nepal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S..

American national tour:

“Riverdance”- Irish music and dance extravaganza 1998-2001

Awards:

• The Special Prize of Detroit Flute Festival, 1994
• The International Academy of Arts in Paris Award, 1996
• “Music Artist of the Year” at the National Music Awards, 1997 and 2002
• Apollo Toxophoros for sparkling contribution to Bulgarian music, 2001
• National Film Centre Annual Awards-”Best film music composer”, 2006
• “Artist Of Salon Des Arts” , 2007
• “Dobri Chintulov” for culture activity, 2009
• “Golden Age” for contribution to Bulgarian culture, 2011

Music for motion pictures:

• “The Warden of the Dead People”, Composer
• “Follow Me”, Composer
• “Katalii”, Composer
• “Gori, gori, oganche”, Composer
• “Vesta”, Composer
• “Granitsa”, Composer
• “La Corsa dell’Innocene”, Carlo Siliotto, Musician
• “An Italian Story”, Ennio Morricone, Musician

Recordings and CD’s:

• Theodosii Spassov & Heavenly Strings, THSP Music, 2010
• Open mood, THSP Music, 2010
• Black Sea Fire, Jaro Records, 2010
• Personification , Gega New, 2009
• Bace Quartet —Guerre Propre, Chicken Madness, 2006
• Viara, THSP Music, 2006
• Gambit, ENJA RECORDS, 2004
• Treta Majka, Avalon Production, 2004
• Titla, GEGA NEW RECORDS, 2003
• Lot Lorien & Theodosii Spassov-Live in Ohrid , CLUB ETHNO – ART , 2003
• Echotopia , FM RECORDS , 2003
• Theodosii Spassov Trio – Live in London , BULGARIAN CREATIVE ARTS , 2003
• Non – Standard Standards , SIBULET LTD, 2003
• Encounters On The Road, 41T Ltd, 2001
• Labyrinth, CANDID,2001
• The Spirit Of Bulgaria / Malka Moma, EMAM, 1020 2001
• Ultramarin,  KUKER MUSIK, 2001
• Silhouettes, STAIKO STAIKOV , 2001
• The Fish Praying For Rain, TRADITIONAL CROSSROAD, 2000
• Na Trapeza, GEGA NEW RECORDS, 2000
• Fairy Tale Trio, VERGO, 1998
• Bulgarian Folk Dances, HEMUS, 1998
• Bratimene, GEGA NEW RECORDS, 1998
• The Glimpse, CMP RECORDS, 1997
• Everest Concert, RFI, 1996
• Atmospheric Conditions Permitting, ECM 1995
• Beyond the Frontiers, GEGA NEW RECORDS, 1995
• Welkya, GEGA NEW RECORDS, 1994
• Karen Young, URSH, 1992
• Gurbet Mohabet, BALKANTON, 1990
• The Sand Girl, BALKANTON, 1989
• The Long Road, BALKANTON, 1986

Theodosii Spassov invented a new musical genre. The American magazine is absolutely right. The Bulgarian genius developed a completely new style of playing the KAVAL, which is a shepherd’s flute consisting of wood and one of the oldest instruments in Europe.

Theodosii gets everything out of his KAVAL when playing his unique compositions. They include elements of traditional folklore music as well as jazz, classical music and even pop. His very own way of playing has not only impressed audiences during his concerts and festival appearances, but also fellow musicians, who cooperated with THEODOSII SPASSOV in the past years. Among them are Dave Liebman, Andy Sheppard, Yldiz Ibrahimova, Ennio Morricone, Jamey Haddad, Albert Mangelsdorff, Mark Johnson, Kazumi Watanabe and many others.

With his amazing trio, Theodosii Spassov performed in Argentina, Australia, Austria,Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Israel, Japan, Nepal, Russia,Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S. and of course in Bulgaria, where he is known as a national hero. All over the world, he is known as a GRAMMY WINNER (with “Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares”, 1994), as a movie score composer and genius performer. His steadily growing fan community is addicted to his music.

Theodosii Spassov began studying the KAVAL at early age at The Academy Of Music and Dance in Plovdiv/Bulgaria. Later, he recorded 10 solo albums (e.g. “The Fish Are Praying For Rain”, see discography below) and contributed to 11 albums by fellow artists.

Press statements on Theodosii Spassov:

NEWSWEEK: “He actually created a new musical genre.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “….like a jam session between Ian Anderson and Thelonius Monk.”

BERLINER MORGENPOST: “What he manages to produce on his wooden flute is sensational.”

HOWARD ROVICS: “His work on the Kaval was nothing short of pure genius.”

CHRIS NICKSON: “….Spassov sounds like the late flutist and saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk Except Spassov plays a simple, rural shepherd’s flute.”