Media
PRESS KIT – EXTENDED BIOS of DIRECTORS
Blagomira Lipari, Penka Kouneva and George Nicholas
CURATOR OF CONCERTS:
Musical Journey Through Bulgaria: Classical and Beyond
Ancient Thrace and the Classical World
National Music & Global Culture Society,
Executive Board Member, Violinist, New York, NY. International Competition Jury. 2018-present.
Bulgarian Concert Evenings New York
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
Women Composers for Media
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.