Media

PRESS KIT – EXTENDED BIOS of DIRECTORS

Blagomira Lipari, Penka Kouneva and George Nicholas

Blagomira Lipari, a versatile solo, chamber, and orchestral musician has been awarded the Ivan Vazov Medal for her significant contribution to Bulgarian art and culture around the world, and the Exceptional Prix from the International Chamber Music Competition in Neerpelt, Belgium. She has been a featured soloist with the National Academy of Music Orchestra in Bulgaria, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and New Millennium Orchestra in Chicago. She has appeared on Bulgarian, Spanish and US national television, WCNY Syracuse, NY, and WFMT in Chicago. Lipari serves on the Executive Boards of National Music & Global Culture Society in NYC and has been a co-chair of the Bulgarian Concert Evenings of New York. She has performed with Access Contemporary Music Ensemble, CUBE ensemble, DCINY, and the Society for New Music and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Getty Museum, Chicago Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, Stanford University, University of Chicago, Columbia College – Chicago, Harris Theater, and Paris Conservatory.

CURATOR OF CONCERTS:

Musical Journey Through Bulgaria: Classical and Beyond

hosted by Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles, co-curated with Penka Kouneva. Los Angeles, March 21, 2025.

Ancient Thrace and the Classical World

Music curator, violinist for the opening of the exhibit. Programmed two hours of Bulgarian solo and chamber music, including two premieres. The event was attended by 600 guests including politicians from three countries, Hollywood stars, diplomats, journalists, and museum donors. Getty Villa Museum, November 3d, 2024.

National Music & Global Culture Society,

Executive Board Member, Violinist, New York, NY. International Competition Jury. 2018-present.

Bulgarian Concert Evenings New York

Acting Co-chair, Violinist. Co-produced three chamber concerts at Consulate General of Bulgaria in New York, a fundraiser in 2018, and the Annual Gala 2018 at Carnegie Hall. Blagomira played piano trios with world renown artists: International Tchaikovsky Competition Gold medalist Sergey Antonov, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Professor Nargiz Aliyarova, and renowned cellist Katinka Kleijn – member of International Contemporary ensemble and Chicago Symphony. New York City, 2018.

Society for New Music, Board Member, Fundraising Committee Member, Violinist, Syracuse NY. 2013-2016

Developed and produced chamber music series for recovering patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital, VAMC, and the Cancer Center, Syracuse, NY. 2014-2016.

New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago

Artistic Advisor, Personnel Manager, Co-founder, Concertmaster 2005-2012. Co-produced numerous concerts at: Ravinia Festival in 2009, Sonar International Festival in Chicago 2011, Chicago Green Festival 2005-2010, Symphony Center Chicago with world renowned tenor Yonghoon Lee 2011, Harris Theater Chicago 2011 and 2012, official opening of Chicago’s Millennium Park Lurie Garden, Chicago Cultural Center-Preston Bradley Hall 2005-2012, Columbia College Chicago 2007-2011, Ralph Arnold Gallery-Loyola University Chicago 2009, Chicago Architectural Club 2009-2012, worked with the Kennedy Center on the future innovative artistic vision of the orchestra, honored for organizing “Earth Night” concert and co-founding New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago by the City of Chicago, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce and by Alderman Mary Ann Smith, Chicago, IL, 2005.

Penka Kouneva, Grammy-winning composer and studio orchestrator, has worked in Hollywood for 26 years scoring television (Dragon Age Absolution Netflix series), films (Aga, Encounter), video games (League of Legends, Prince of Persia) and theme parks (Heroes and Legends at the Kennedy Space Center). Her two orchestral albums, The Woman Astronaut (2015) and Rebirth of Id (2017) were released by Universal Music. Penka was born and raised in Bulgaria and holds the first-ever Ph.D. in composition from Duke University (1997). Penka’s notable awards include Duke University Distinguished Alumna, BMI Impact Award, Hollywood Music in Media Award, Sundance Institute Fellowship, Ovation Awards, Game Audio Network Guild Recognition Award, and Aaron Copland Award-Residency.

CURATOR OF CONCERTS & RESIDENCIES:

Musical Journey Through Bulgaria: Classical and Beyond

hosted by Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles, co-curated with Blagomira Lipari. Los Angeles, March 21, 2025.

America in Space: The Soundtrack of Exploration

with LA Phil – Orchestral Concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing with selections of film scores performed live-to-picture – August 19, 2019 at the Hollywood Bowl, 18,000 people in the audience (sold out)

The World of Video Games

with Cantus Firmus Orchestra & FM Classic Radio, Sofia Bulgaria – Orchestral concert with game soundtracks continuing the grand orchestral tradition, in collaboration with Classic FM Radio, Sofia, Bulgaria, and the America for Bulgaria Foundation. March 2018, Sofia, Bulgaria. 1000 people, a sold out concert.

Women Warriors: The Voices of Change

live-to-picture concert and documentary film, Lincoln Center, NYC, September 2019. Produced by the Grammy-winning Amy Andersson.

Women Who Score

hosted by the Alliance of Women Film Composers, the Grand Square, Los Angeles, August 2016. 20 featured film composers. Audience of 3500 people.

Women Composers for Media

hosted by MPATH Productions, private concert, October 2019. 15 featured composers. Audience of 500.

George Nicholas is a Bulgarian-American writer-director-producer born in Slovakia in 1987. His short films include fiction as well as documentary work and have garnered awards from festivals in California, West Virginia and New York. He has been living in Los Angeles with his wife and creative partner, Eliza Bonev, since graduating from Bulgaria’s National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in 2011. His drama short film “Limité” was the official selection / winner at the Sedona International Film Festival, Havana Film Festival, Carmel International Film Festival, Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, among others.

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