Nikolay Iliev’s Mission to Support Bulgaria’s Young Musicians

In this episode, host James interviews Nikolay Ilyev, a trumpet player and entrepreneur from Vidin, Bulgaria, who operates Iliev Brass Music.

Nikolay shares his musical journey beginning in the sixth grade, his advanced studies in Switzerland with Jean Francois Michel, and his time in the UK. He discusses the unique aspects of Bulgarian music culture, including the importance of folk music and the tradition of wind bands.

Nikolay is launching a new line of trumpets and flugelhorns and has created ‘Music Youth Prospects for Vidin’ to support young, financially disadvantaged musicians in Bulgaria.

The episode provides insights into Bulgarian musical traditions and Nikolay’s innovative contributions to brass instrument production.

Episode Highlights:

01:42 Nikolay’s Musical Journey

02:53 The Music Scene in Bulgaria

06:38 Innovative Trumpet and Flugelhorn Designs

12:03 Supporting Young Musicians in Bulgaria

13:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned:

Music Youth Prospects for Vidin

Connect With the Guest:

Bulgarian trumpet player and brass educator (born July 18, 1975), Nikolay Iliev was born in Vidin, Bulgaria (in the North West of the country). He started playing trumpet at the age of 14 and studied for few years under local professional orchestral and band trumpeters. 

In 1999 he enrolled in the trumpet class of Jean-François Michel (a former principal trumpet with the Munich philharmonic)at the Fribourg Conservatoire (Switzerland) and continued his education at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK) under the guidance of Murray Greig and John Miller.

After returning to his home town of Vidin he took on a principal trumpet role with Vidin Philharmonic for 2 years then spent 5 years in Antalya, Turkey playing in show bands for local touristic resorts .

He spent two more years as an orchestral trumpeter (mostly pit work) with Razgrad Philharmonic in Bulgaria before going back to Vidin, this time as a a music directo and music theory teacher for a local school profiled in music and playing for the Vidin Municipality wind band.

In the beginning of 2025 he reopened his company Brass Universe Ltd (which was closed for more than 10 years) and build his first brass instrument (a flugelhorn). He has also started a fund to help local youth musicians with finances for participation in competitions, masterclasses and summer camps.

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