Dr Devorina Gamalova
The Bulgarian-German musician Devorina Gamalova obtained her violin performing and teaching diplomas from the Music Academies in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Dresden (Germany), PG certificates from RCM and GSMD in London and in 2008 was awarded a PhD degree outright from the University of West London. Among her professors were Grigory Zhislin (whom she later assisted at RCM London), Boyan Letchev (D. Oistrach’s pupil) and Dora Bratchkova.
Gamalova performs as a soloist with different symphony and chamber orchestras and as a chamber musician with leading pianists around the globe. She has given masterclasses and lectures in many countries in Europe, Asia and America. She has recordings and publications in different languages and countries. She has also written music to her own lyrics and inspired a new form of musical compositions for violin and viola performed by one soloistfor which she is the dedicatee and first performer.
She worked as principal concertmaster of the current Elbland Philharmonie in Germany and later moved to UK focusing on solo performance and teaching (at Trinity and Royal Birmingham Conservatories, at Goldsmiths University of London and London College of Music). Her Junior students frequently win festivals and competitions and achieve ‘distinction’ and her Senior and Master students 1st class in their exams.
She also worked as a recitalist for Menuhin's 'Live Music Now' bringing live classical music to disadvantaged audiences, and continues to take forward transmitting this mission worldwide.
Gamalova has been Artistic Director of several educative projects, adjudicator of competitions and runs a Charity in aid of young musicians and children with diabetes.
Among her recent awards are the prestigious 'Crystal Lyre 2013' for “outstanding artistic achievements” and an 'Honorary Diploma' in 2014 from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture.
Gamalova’s interpretation of Poulenc’s Violin Sonata on her first CD was described by Poulenc’s biographer Benjamin Ivry in The Yale Review Magazine (Volume 87, Issue 4, p. 171 ) as ‘the best case I have heard’ for this work.
Her recent ‘Treasured Classics’ CD, with favourite pieces for violin and her own transcriptions for viola, was highly commended by the Quarterly Review Magazine and received 5 stars from the Musical Opinion Classical Music Magazine.
Her late Professor and leading violinist Grigory Zhislin (†2017) described Gamalova as "an outstanding musician who possesses an equal command of the violin and the viola. Her playing is characterised by beautiful and varied sound, excellent technical skills, cultured and disciplined musical thinking."
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