Dedicated to the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Bach Academy with Nikolay Stoykov offers a four-day intensive course in historically informed performance practice for pianists and harpsichordists. Throughout the workshop, participants will explore the stylistic characteristics, sound world, and interpretative principles of Bach’s music through practical work on both the harpsichord and the modern piano.

The academy is led by Nikolay Stoykov, a performer with extensive experience in the field of early music. He studied in France with distinguished musicians and specialized in harpsichord and Baroque performance practice under the guidance of renowned French harpsichordists Joël Pontet and Violaine Cochard. A recipient of numerous national and international awards, he maintains an active concert career as both a soloist and chamber musician in Bulgaria and abroad.

The course is open both to pianists who wish to become acquainted with the distinctive features of the harpsichord and Baroque style, and to harpsichordists seeking to deepen their knowledge of Bach’s repertoire. The academy concludes with a final participants’ concert.

For questions and further information:

+359 882 898 605
[email protected]

Part of the “Masterclasses” series

Nikolay Stoykov began playing the piano and flute at the age of 11. His encounter with his first piano teacher, Teodora Shipkovenska, proved decisive in his choice to devote his life to music.

He graduated with distinction from the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov,” studying flute with Mila Pavlova, and later obtained a Master’s degree from the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” under Prof. Lidia Oshavkova. Between 2010 and 2017, he continued his musical education in France — first at the Conservatory in Strasbourg in the flute class of Sandrine François (principal flute of the Strasbourg Philharmonic), and subsequently specializing for three years with the world-renowned flutist Patrick Gallois in Paris.

His passion for early music led him to study harpsichord and Baroque performance practice with French harpsichordists Joël Pontet and Violine Cochard.

Nikolay Stoykov is the recipient of numerous awards as a soloist and chamber musician from national and international competitions, including “Young Virtuosos,” “Music and Earth,” the Academic Competition “Nikola Stefanov,” among others.

He has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in Bulgaria and abroad, and has appeared at festivals such as “ppIANISSIMO,” “New Bulgarian Music,” and “The Art of Baroque.”

His repertoire spans works from the Renaissance to contemporary music, and he is guided by the belief that what is essential for an artist is to be unique and to develop a genuine musical voice, transforming each concert into an emotional experience shared with the audience.