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Iliya Kristoff -- from Bulgaria to New Zealand |
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Written by nukelele
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 Iliya Kristoff was born in 1971 in Plovdiv - the second largest city in Bulgaria. He started playing guitar at the age of six. By age nine he was winning national classical guitar competitions. He took first award in Bulgaria's national guitar contest in town of Chirpan three years in a row.
Iliya graduated from the High School of Music in Plovdiv in 1990 and in 1994 he obtained his Masters degree in Music Pedagogy from Bulgaria's Academy of Music and Dance, Plovdiv.
Iliya has ten awards from Bulgarian National Classical Guitar competitions and two awards from international classical guitar competitions.
In 2000, an Internet search put Iliya in contact with the New Zealand guitar teacher Phil Read, who recommended Tauranga as a musically active city that would welcome a guitarist of his ability and experience. After two years researching and learning the required English skills, Iliya and his wife Stefka immigrated to New Zealand.
On arrival in Tauranga in January 2002, Iliya quickly began to establish himself as a concert performer and guitar teacher. A few house concerts organised by friends then led to a series of concerts in Tauranga, Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua in November 2002. Since February 2002, Iliya has been teaching classical guitar on a private basis - at home and at Bethlehem College.
It doesn't happen often that a classical guitarist is inspired by a jazz guitarist, but Iliya's favourite musician is guitarist Pat Metheny, whose harmonic depth and complexity inspire him in his own music making.
After a year-and-a-half of living in New Zealand, Iliya enjoys the quietness of his adopted country, which he needs in order to practise and think about music. He is also very happy with his New Zealand made guitar, built by Auckland luthier Rod Capper.
Iliya is about to embark on his second concert tour (September 2003), which will take him further afield. His ambition is to travel widely in New Zealand, then throughout Australia and other parts of the world. Perhaps even back to his home country, Bulgaria.
Iliya's website: Click here |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 17 July 2006 )
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