People refer to Theodosii Spassov as \u201cthe kaval player of the world\u201d. Indeed, Theodosii Spassov\u2019s fans all over the world form a very wide circle. Born on March 4, 1961 in the town of Isperih, he graduated from the Philip Kutev National School of Folk Arts in Kotel and then the Plovdiv Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts. He is acknowledged as a virtuoso kaval performer, who is capable of playing any folk melody with style. What makes him even more popular are his original ideas, the realization of which brings together musicians of diverse genres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was the first to play jazz on kaval and the mixing of traditional folk music with elements of jazz and classical music is at the basis of almost all original pieces composed by Theodosii. Theodosii Spassov developed his own unique playing style. His performances are an unusual synthesis of traditional folklore, jazz and classical music. In the recent years he has been busy composing scores for film and theatre, as well as music for symphonic orchestra and kaval. He has recorded over 38 CDs, containing solo performances and collaborations with various musical formations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theodosii plays with folk, jazz and classical orchestras and bands, famous Bulgarian and foreign musicians, including the Music Bands of the Bulgarian National Radio, the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir, known for the Le Myst\u00e8re des Voix Bulgares project, the Philip Koutev Ensemble, Ivo Papazov, Georgi Yanev, Petar Ralchev, Milcho Leviev, Y\u0131ld\u0131z \u0130brahimova, Simeon Shterev, Veselin N\u0131kolov, Petar Petrov, Anatoliy Vapirov, Acoustic Version, the band of the Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Glen Velez, Dave Liebman,Glen Moore, Mino Cin\u00e9lu, Paul McCandless, Billy Cobham, Marc Johnson, Kazumi Watanabe, Bruce Dickinson. For three years, he was a member of the Irish music and dance company Riverdance. His collaboration with the conductor Kristjan J\u00e4rvi, the guitarists Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadi\u0107 for the Balkan Fever project was jointly presented with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1995, Newsweek listed him among the most talented East European musicians in its Best of the East column, noting that “Spassov is not merely surviving the post-communist cultural wasteland. He has actually invented a new musical genre.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to his live performances, Theodosii takes part in recordings for film and theatre. He works alongside artists such as Ennio Morricone and Carlo Siliotto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theodosii Spassov is a holder of many distinctions and awards, among which the International Academy of Arts in Paris Award<\/strong> (1996), Music Artist of the Year Award<\/strong> (1997 and 2002), the Apollo Toxophoros statuette<\/strong> for his pronounced contribution to Bulgarian music and worldwide success (2001), the National Film Centre Award for film music<\/strong> (2007 and 2016), the Dobri Chintulov Award for contribution to Bulgarian culture<\/strong> (2009). In 2011, he was presented with the highest honour of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, the Golden Age<\/strong>, for his significant contribution to the development and popularization of Bulgarian culture and traditional music. He was also granted with the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius<\/strong> by the Bulgarian state \u2013 first grade with collar, for exceptional contribution to Bulgarian culture (2013), the honorary title Doctor honoris causa<\/strong> by the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv (2014) and was named UNESCO Artist for Peace<\/strong> in 2015. Crystal Harp<\/strong> prize from the Union of the Bulgarian Music and Dance actors (2015). Prize for Theatrical music \u201cMaestro Dimitar Vulchev\u201d<\/strong> (2018), Sofia Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Music and Cinema<\/strong> (2021), Theater Award \u201cAskeer\u201d<\/strong> (2021), “IKAR”<\/strong> of the Union of Bulgarian Actors in the category “Contemporary Bulgarian Music”<\/strong> (2022), Award for innovative projects with high artistic value and international significance in the field of culture<\/strong> of SoFest and Sofia Municipality (2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Music School in Kotel The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jazz Linia, \u201cLe Mystere des Voix Bulgares\u201d, Trio \u201cBulgarka\u201d, National Radio Sofia Orchestras, Ivo Papazov, Yldiz Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Israel, Japan, Nepal, \u201cRiverdance\u201d- Irish music and dance extravaganza 1998-2001<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theodosii<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spassov<\/strong> invented a new musical genre. The American magazine is Theodosii <\/strong>gets Theodosii<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spassov<\/strong> performed in Argentina, Australia, Austria,Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holland, NEWSWEEK: \u201cHe actually created a new musical genre.\u201d CHICAGO TRIBUNE: \u201c\u2026.like a jam session between Ian Anderson and People refer to Theodosii Spassov as \u201cthe kaval player of the world\u201d. Indeed, Theodosii Spassov\u2019s fans all over the world form a very wide circle. Born on March 4, 1961 in the town of Isperih, he graduated from the Philip Kutev National School of Folk Arts in Kotel and then the Plovdiv Academy of Music, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6643,"parent":2,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"static_page.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7107,"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/7107"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theodosiispassov.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Training:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fellow artists he worked with:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ibrahimova, Vesselin Nikolov, Milcho Leviev, Acoustic Version, Dave Liebman, Dimitrios Vassilakis, Andy Sheppard,
Jamey Haddad, Albert Mangelsdorf, Mark Johnson, Trilok Gurtu, Kazumi Watanabe, Glen Velez, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Matt
Darriau, Boyan Zulfikarpasic, Dionisis Savopulos, Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, Billy Cobham, Ennio Morricone<\/p>\n\n\n\nConcerts as a soloist in:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S..<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican national tour:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Awards:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Music for motion pictures:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Recordings and CD\u2019s:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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CLUB ETHNO \u2013 ART , 2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n
BULGARIAN CREATIVE ARTS , 2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n
absolutely right. The Bulgarian genius developed a completely new style of playing the KAVAL, which is a shepherd\u2019s
flute consisting of wood and one of the oldest instruments in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
everything out of his KAVAL when playing his unique compositions. They include elements of traditional folklore
music as well as jazz, classical music and even pop. His very own way of playing has not only impressed audiences
during his concerts and festival appearances, but also fellow musicians, who cooperated with THEODOSII SPASSOV in
the past years. Among them are Dave Liebman, Andy Sheppard, Yldiz Ibrahimova, Ennio Morricone, Jamey Haddad, Albert
Mangelsdorff, Mark Johnson, Kazumi Watanabe and many others. With his amazing trio, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
India, Israel, Japan, Nepal, Russia,Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S. and of course in Bulgaria, where
he is known as a national hero. All over the world, he is known as a GRAMMY WINNER (with \u201cLe Mystere Des Voix
Bulgares\u201d, 1994), as a movie score composer and genius performer. His steadily growing fan community is addicted to
his music. Theodosii Spassov began studying the KAVAL at early age at The Academy Of Music and Dance in
Plovdiv\/Bulgaria. Later, he recorded 10 solo albums (e.g. \u201cThe Fish Are Praying For Rain\u201d, see discography below)
and contributed to 11 albums by fellow artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPress statements on Theodosii Spassov:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Thelonius Monk.\u201d BERLINER MORGENPOST: \u201cWhat he manages to produce on his wooden flute is sensational.\u201d HOWARD
ROVICS: \u201cHis work on the Kaval was nothing short of pure genius.\u201d CHRIS NICKSON: \u201c\u2026.Spassov sounds like the late
flutist and saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk Except Spassov plays a simple, rural shepherd\u2019s flute.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"