ABOUT

DENITZA DIMITROVA – © Author: Tommy Kolev

DENITZA DIMITROVA is the principal harp soloist of the National Opera and Ballet – Sofia, Bulgaria.

She maintains an active international concert career as both a soloist and chamber musician, performing in Bulgaria, Greece, France, Monte Carlo, Italy, Cyprus, Lebanon, and other countries.

She has appeared as a soloist with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, “Quarto” Chamber Ensemble, Gabrovo Chamber Orchestra, Razgrad Philharmonic, “Orpheus” Chamber Orchestra (Pernik), and the Bulgarian Chamber Orchestra (Dobrich).

Denitza Dimitrova has been a guest harpist of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and has performed in numerous concerts with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra in Greece, Germany, Romania, and Serbia, following her successful audition for the position of substitute harpist in 2009.

She has shared the stage with world-renowned artists such as Sonya Yoncheva, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, among others.

Denitza Dimitrova is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions as a harp soloist. Among her total of 13 awards, the most notable include:

• First Prize at the International UFAM Competition – Paris (2005),
• Second Prize at the “Revelation Muses 2005” Competition, organized by the Nice Opera,
• Second Prize at the International Competition “Musicians of the Next Millennium” – Skopje (2004),
• Laureate title at the First International Vera Dulova Festival-Competition – Moscow (2000).

In 2002, she was among 30 young harpists worldwide selected through a preliminary competition to participate in the “Focus on Youth” concert series at the 8th World Harp Congress in Geneva.

In February 2026, Denitza Dimitrova was awarded the highest distinction—First Prize at the “Excellence” level—at the International Harp Competition in Limoges, France (French Harp Competition).

In 2004, she earned a Master’s degree in harp from the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia, studying under Prof. Malina Hristova, while also specializing (2003–2005) with the world-renowned harpist Prof. Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche in Nice, France.

Her training with the French harp legend further refined her skills to a level that quickly gained high recognition both in Bulgaria and internationally.

Other distinguished musicians who played an important role in her professional development include Maria Bildea (Greece/Romania), Ieuan Jones (United Kingdom), and Jana Boušková (Czech Republic), with whom she worked extensively.

She has also participated in masterclasses led by Catherine Michel, Claudia Antonelli, Germaine Lorenzini, Anna Loro, Victor Hartobanu, and others.

Her professional path has been profoundly shaped by her interactions with leading figures of the global musical heritage. Particularly memorable is her warm friendship with the legendary composer Vangelis, whom she visited twice at his home, where she had the opportunity to perform a private concert on his personal boutique harp—produced in a limited edition exclusively for the homes of distinguished musical patrons.

Through her active concert career as a soloist and chamber musician, she continually expands her extensive repertoire, encompassing major works composed or arranged for the harp across all musical periods and styles.

Denitza Dimitrova is a frequent guest soloist at international festivals including “Days of Music in Balchik,” “Days of Chamber Music” in Gabrovo, the New Year Music Festival at the National Palace of Culture – Sofia, the International Youth Festival “Crossroads” in Plovdiv, among many others.

With over two decades of teaching experience working with harpists at all levels—from beginners to professionals—her career includes successfully passing competitive selections for harp tutor position at the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” – Sofia (2006–2011) and the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music – Beirut (2010–2015).

In 2016, she successfully re-auditioned for her former position at the Sofia Opera and Ballet, which she won again, while continuing her teaching activities.

To date, she has conducted four international harp masterclasses, which since 2024 are held annually in October at the “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” House Museum in Sofia.

Among her youngest and most successful students is her daughter, Emma Rose Katsari, aged 11, who is a laureate of dozens of international harp competitions for young talents.