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Ivo Stankov has become one of the Bulgaria's leading artists of his generation. He has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader in countries including the UK, Bulgaria, Italy, Holland, France, Spain, Lebanon, in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Glasgow Concert Hall, Westminster Parliament, De Montfort Hall, Leicester, the RAI Congress Centre, Amsterdam and many others. He made his solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall, aged fourteen, as a soloist with the New English Orchestra, as part of the New Year's Eve Celebrations with Sir Cliff Richard and returned there as soloist of All Souls Orchestra playing Elgar's Violin Concerto at the Prom Praise concert in March 2003. With the ASO he has been featured as a soloist in a number of occasions in the UK and abroad, playing the Sibelius and Mendelssohn concertos, the Saint-Seans "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" and "Havanaise", and Vaugham- Williams "The Lark Ascending". He also has played in front of the Queen of Denmark, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Leader of the House of Commons.
As a recitalist Ivo has performed in a number of venues in London, including Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St. John's Smith Square, St. James's Piccadilly, and also through the UK and Europe. He has performed in the Bulgaria National Hall in Sofia under the patronage of the Bulgarian president, with a subsequent broadcast on national TV and Radio. Ivo also has taken part in the International Festivals "Sofia Summer Days" and "Varna Summer Festival", in Bulgaria.
Prior to coming in the UK he performed frequently in Spain both as soloist and as a leader of the City of Elche Orchestra, the Baroque Orchestra Valencia and the Barvinski Camerata, and has recorded on numerous occasions for Spanish National TV and Radio.
As a chamber musician Ivo has performed with his Piano Trio Freude in concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and was awarded a chamber music residency at the Banff Centre of Arts in Canada.
Ivo's studies took place at Dobri Hristov School of Music and Arts in his hometown Varna, the Royal Conservatoire in Madrid and the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he was awarded a full scholarship from Christian Aid Trust, to study with Erich Gruenberg.
He is a recipient of many prizes and awards including the Craxton Memorial Trust Award, London, and the Honours Diploma Award from the Royal Conservatoire in Madrid. In 2003 he claimed second prize of Bulgarian Classic FM "Musician of the Year" Awards.
Since settling in the UK, Ivo has worked with many orchestras, and recorded for television and on CD, as well as playing for West End shows. He is the leader of Schomberg String Quartet, featured recently in both Channel 4 's "Operatunity -- The Winners", and Operababes' Nationwide Tours. He is also a guest leader of London Schubert Players and the London String Quartet, and leader in residence of Independent Opera and Adoramus Orchestra.
He plays on 1787 Gagliano violin, kindly lent to him by the Independent Opera at Sadler's Wells.