Jassen Todorov
has distinguished himself as one of the most prominent violinists of
his generation. Dubbed “an outstanding violinist…a player
to watch” by the British music journal The Strad, Mr. Todorov
has appeared with major orchestras in the United States and Europe,
and has given numerous recitals, including New York’s Weill Recital
Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw (together with violinist Oleh
Krysa) and London’s St. James, among others. He is also an active
performer in his native Bulgaria, where he is considered one of the
country’s most prized young musicians.
With a repertoire
including works from all styles and epochs, the 33-year-old violinist
became the youngest musician (at 26) to record all six violin sonatas
of Eugene Ysaye. Reviewing the 2001 CD, The Strad said Mr. Todorov “is
able to deliver Ysaye's demands in the many mercurial passages with
commendable accuracy” and the American Record Guide described
it as “high praise…an important release for admirers of
Ysaye’s music.” He has also recorded the three Brahms violin
sonatas with critical acclaim. Both discs are on Gega New label.
Mr. Todorov began his musical education in Bulgaria at the Schools of Music in Plovdiv and Sofia and furthered his studies in the United States at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. A top prize winner of several national and international competitions, he earned his bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Harid Conservatory, Florida, and his master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the teaching assistant to Professor Oleh Krysa at the Eastman School and held a violin position at the University of Rochester. In 2002, he received the prestigious Eastman award for excellence in teaching. Currently, Mr. Todorov is the Director of the School of Music and Dance at San Francisco State University.
