13 Facts About Dobrinka Tabakova

Dobrinka Tabakova is a Bulgarian-British composer.

Dobrinka Tabakova was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to medical physicists Vassilka and Slavik Tabakov.

Dobrinka Tabakova won the Jean-Frederic Perrenoud Prize of the 4th International Competition of Music in Vienna when she was 14 years old.

Dobrinka Tabakova studied at Alleyn's School London and the Royal Academy of Music in London and graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Dobrinka Tabakova studied composition under Simon Bainbridge, Diana Burrell, Robert Keeley and Andrew Schultz and has attended master classes with John Adams, Louis Andriessen, Alexander Goehr, Olav Anton Thommessen and Iannis Xenakis.

Dobrinka Tabakova's "Praise" was sung at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2011 Dobrinka Tabakova was awarded first prize and medal of the Sorel Organization's choral competition in New York.

Dobrinka Tabakova's compositions have been performed at music festivals throughout Britain, in Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Russia and throughout Europe and the United States.

Dobrinka Tabakova was Composer in Residence at the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival; at the Kremerata Baltica Festival in Sigulda, Latvia; and at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival, Austria, among others.

Dobrinka Tabakova has worked with orchestras including Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Kammerorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Swan and BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Dobrinka Tabakova's works have especially been performed by the violist Maxim Rysanov, as well as violinists Gidon Kremer and Janine Jansen, and pianist Ivan Yanakov.

Dobrinka Tabakova's works have been recorded for Hyperion Records and the Avie record label and in 2013 ECM Records released an album devoted to her music, entitled String Paths.

Dobrinka Tabakova won an Ivor Novello Award at The Ivors Classical Awards 2023.