Tonight at 7:00 PM in the Philharmonic Hall, the audience in Ruse will have the opportunity to experience the artistry of young and promising pianist Veronika Ilieva, a graduate of the National School of Arts "Prof. Veselin Stoyanov" in Ruse. She will perform Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 together with the Orchestra of State Opera Ruse, under the baton of conductor Ukki Sachedina.
Veronika Ilieva is a student of one of the leading piano teachers, Evgeni Zhelyazkov. She has been actively involved in music and the arts from an early age and is a laureate of numerous first and second prizes from competitions in Italy, Switzerland, Cyprus, Estonia, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria. In June 2025, she was awarded First Prize at the prestigious international competition PREMIO TOSCANA CITTÀ DI CASCINA, held in Cascina, Italy. She also received the Grand Special Prize “Milcho Leviev” at the second edition of the National Music Competition “Milcho Leviev” in Plovdiv in 2025. Veronika has participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Lyudmil Angelov, Borislava Taneva, Alessandro Deljavan, Daniela Andonova, Alexander Hinchev, and others. She has performed more than ten times as a soloist with the Ruse Philharmonic, the Shumen Symphony Orchestra, and the Academic Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Maxim Eshkenazy, Dimitar Kosev, Viliana Valcheva, Georgi Patrikov, Svetlin Hristov, and Ivan Ivanov. Veronika has also appeared at international festivals including March Music Days, Sofia Music Weeks, Aurora Festival (Netherlands), MiraTone Festival (Hungary), among others. She has given concerts and participated in performances across Bulgaria, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, and Serbia. In June 2025, Veronika gave her first solo recital titled Impression, presented to the Ruse audience. She is also a soloist with the Ruse Children’s Opera, part of State Opera Ruse. Later this month, she will participate in the prestigious music academy Fiestravaganza in Berlin, which partners with the legendary piano manufacturer Bechstein.
Here’s what Veronika shared before the concert:
Veronika, You will be performing Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto with the Orchestra of State Opera Ruse. Have You played this piece before?
Yes, I had the pleasure of performing Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto several times this year. In April, on the occasion of the patron holiday of the National School of Arts "Prof. Veselin Stoyanov", I performed the first movement, conducted by Viliana Valcheva. Then in May, I was invited by the Shumen Symphony Orchestra to perform the full concerto with Svetlin Hristov.
What is the feeling to perform with the Orchestra of State Opera Ruse?
Every time I play with the Orchestra of State Opera Ruse, I feel at home. I’ve had the pleasure of performing with them eight times already - this will be my ninth - and each time I enjoy a warm, friendly atmosphere. I know many of the musicians personally; they have followed my progress closely, supported me, helped me in every way, and made me feel welcome on stage alongside them.
You recently returned from a prestigious competition in Plovdiv. Tell us how it went - did you win an award?
Last week, I participated in the second edition of the National Music Competition “Milcho Leviev” held in Plovdiv. To my great joy, I was awarded the Grand Special Prize “Milcho Leviev,” which is one of the three top prizes of the entire competition. I also received the special “Odeon” award, which made me very happy. Overall, the competition was a truly wonderful experience. We had the chance to participate in workshops with the jury members, where we worked on pieces of our own choosing. The jury was incredibly friendly and encouraged us to express ourselves and enjoy the music we were creating - and that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t play like I was competing; I played from the heart, with great love and no fear or anxiety. Apparently, the jury recognized that and appreciated it. The most memorable moment for me was after the final concert when Milcho Leviev’s wife, Vicky Almazidu, and jury member Antoni Donchev approached me and said that I was the one who didn’t just play to show off technical skill, but made music from the soul and truly lived the art. They told me that the spirit of Milcho Leviev was clearly burning within me. These words mean even more to me than the biggest award.
How many hours a day do You need to prepare when You have important performances and competitions coming up?
Honestly, no matter how many hours I spend at the piano, it never seems enough. I’ve had a lot of engagements recently—this is definitely a very intense season. On top of that, I rarely stay in Ruse, I’m constantly traveling and looking for new opportunities to grow. With the large and diverse repertoire I’m working on right now, all my free time goes into preparing. But of course, I don’t forget to rest, because in our field, mental balance is crucial, and we need time to to recover and find inner balance.
Why did You choose the piano, and what does this instrument mean to you, considering how much time You spend alone with it?
My choice of instrument actually started out playfully. I began playing at the age of five, and I found the big instrument with black and white keys fascinating. But now, having spent most of my conscious life studying it, I realize the piano has incredible possibilities. I’m in love with its sound and constantly search for new timbres, new ways to produce sound. I can't imagine playing anything else. Piano playing has taught me discipline, given me character, and shown me what persistence and determination really mean. It has definitely trained my patience - this is a lifelong journey, and the result is not always immediate. But I’m happy with my choice, and every day I’m inspired to keep working and growing. I truly love what I do with all my heart.
What does the road ahead look like for You? What goals have you set?
My path forward isn’t set in stone, but I know it leads in a musical direction. When I look into the future, I see myself at the piano, doing what I love. My main goal is to continue growing, to stay healthy, and to have the strength and inspiration to keep going with my music - and may luck always be on my side!
Interview by Diana Dimitrova
Photo: Courtesy of Veronika Ilieva
