YANA BUROVA started playing the violin at the age of five and was accepted at the Central Music School “D.Hristov” in Varna, Bulgaria. During that period she won various prizes and awards, including first prize in a “Czech Music Competition” and second prize in National Competition “Svetoslav Obretenov.”

Before finishing her studies in Varna in 1998 she was chosen as a soloist with the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Lalo, Simphonia Essaniola. Immediately after that Yana was awarded a scholarship to study with Professor Yfrah Neaman at the Guildhall School of Music andDrama in London.

After graduating with a Bmus(hons) in 2002 she was awarded a two-year scholarship to study with Vasko Vassilev at the Trinity College of Music, where she led the Trinity String Emsemble and was soloist with the Trinity Orchestra.

In two successive years she won the J&B Beare Classical Concerto Competition and in July 2004 she completed her Post Graduate Advanced Diploma with Distinction.

Yana has attended master classes led by such luminaries as: Yfrah Neaman, Mincho Minchev, Georgy Pauk and in June 2004 was selected to participate in a class led by the world renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov.

Since graduating Yana has persuied a busy career as a performer and teacher. She regularly performs throughout England and plays at festivals in Bulgaria. Most recently she has released a CD featuring music from 20 th century Bulgarian Composers.

She is currently teaching amongst other schools at the St. James Independent School in London.

VESSELINA TCHAKAROVA born in Sofia, began playing the piano at the age of seven. Three years later she was accepted as a student of the Central Music School “L. Pipkov,” under the tutelage of Professor Milena Kourteva.

Her first public recital was at the age of twelve and only a year later she won third prize at the Streza International Piano Competition. In 1995 she was both winner of the Union of FrenchMusicians and Artist Competition and Laureate at the “Young Music Talents” in Sofia. As a result of these successes she performed extensively throughout Greece and Bulgaria.

In 1999 Vessy came to study in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a student of Ronan O’Hora. In 2001 she gave her London debut and was invited to participate in master classes given by renowned pianist Leslie Howard, Paul Roberts and Joan Havil. A year later Vessy was a concerto soloist in Brescia, Italy, performing with Vox Aurae Orchestra under Giancarlo De Lorenzo.

Currantly Vessy lives in London and performs a diverse repertoire as a solo recitalist, accompanist and chamber music as well as teaching at St. Paul ’s Cathedral School.