With the arrival of spring, Sofia Art Institute invites its audience on a musical journey inspired by the tenderness of nature and the beauty of blossoming cherry trees.

Nikolay Stoykov and Denitsa Dimitrova will present an exquisite programme for flute and harp, in which the delicate timbres of the two instruments intertwine like a spring breeze among flowers.

“Sakura’s Spring” combines the French impressionism of Marcel Tournier, Claude Debussy, Alphonse Hasselmans, Maurice Ravel, and Jacques Ibert with the poetic world of Japanese musical tradition. The programme features works by Michio Miyagi as well as the well-known Japanese song “Sakura, Sakura,” a symbol of spring and renewal. The concert will conclude with the “Fantaisie” by Camille Saint-Saëns —a work filled with vibrant colours and vitality.

“Sakura’s Spring” promises an evening of refined chamber music, spring atmosphere, and poetic beauty.

PART OF THE CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES

Denitza Dimitrova is a solo harpist with the National Opera and Ballet – Sofia and one of the most distinguished representatives of the Bulgarian harp school. She graduated from the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov,” and her specialization with the legendary Prof. Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche in France marked a decisive stage in her artistic development.

She is a laureate of 12 national and international competitions, including First Prize at the UFAM International Competition in Paris. She has appeared as a soloist with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Thessaloniki Philharmonic, the Razgrad Philharmonic, and the chamber ensemble “Quarto.”

Dimitrova has performed in France, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Lebanon, Monte Carlo, and beyond, and her masterclasses inspire young harpists in Bulgaria and abroad. Alongside her active concert career, she has extensive pedagogical experience—having taught at the National Academy of Music in Sofia and at the Lebanese Conservatory in Beirut—and currently leads her own harp class.

She is renowned for her brilliant technique, vibrant energy, and inspiring artistry.

Nikolay Stoykov graduated from the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov” in the flute class of Mila Pavlova and continued his studies at the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” under Prof. Lidia Oshavkova.

Between 2010 and 2017, he specialized in France—first at the Conservatory of Strasbourg with Sandrine François, and later in Paris with the world-renowned flutist Patrick Gallois.

He performs actively as both a soloist and chamber musician, appearing at festivals such as ppIANISSIMO, New Bulgarian Music, The Art of Baroque, and Mozart Festival – Pravets. He has collaborated with distinguished artists including Zefira Valova, Ina Kancheva, Christophe Coin, and Alon Sariel, and is a regular guest of the French Institute in Sofia.

Stoykov has performed in Bulgaria and abroad, including in Paris with violinist Augusta McKay Lodge. His repertoire spans from the Renaissance to contemporary music.

He is currently a principal flutist with the Sofia Wind Orchestra and maintains an active concert and teaching career.