George Vassilev - Bulgaria/Switzerland

Considered as guitarist with unique artistry, musical approach and mastery on his instrument, George Vassilev was born in Bulgaria in 1966. He started his guitar studies with Lijuben Haralambiev in Varna. In 1987 he continued his development at the Kiev Conservatory in Ukraine with N. Mikhailenko. Later he graduated “concert degree” classes from the Geneva Conservatory in Switzerland with Maria Livia Sao-Marcos, then with Ingolf Olsen at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen.

G. Vassilev has been awarded first prizes in several prestigious international competitions, such as:
1988 – First prize at the International Guitar Competition
“Silesian Guitar Autumn”, Tychy, Poland
1991 – First prize at the International Guitar Competition
“Città di Alessandria”, Alessandria, Italy
1992 – First prize at the International Competition for Musical Performers
“Maria Canals de Barcelona” , Barcelona, Spain
1992/ 1994 – Second prize and the prize of the audience (1992) at the International Guitar Competition “Francisco Tàrrega”, Benicasim, Spain
1995 – Second prize at the International Guitar Competition
“Jacinto e Inocencio Guerrero” in Madrid, Spain
(First prize has been not awarded)
1995 – First prize at the International Competition for Musical Performers
(CIEM), Geneva, Switzerland

George Vassilev has performed in prestigious music venues worldwide, including the St-Peterburg’s Hermitage, Opera House, Sydney, Royal Festival Hall, London, Victoria Hall, Geneva, New Opera House, Copenhagen, The Arts Centre, Melbourne, Waterfront Hall, Belfast among others. As a soloist, G. Vassilev has been invited to collaborate with concerts managers such as The Springboard Concert Trust, LACCS and IMG Artists in U.K., “Georg Horthagel’s Konzertdirektion” in Germany and has performed with orchestras, such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Italy, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the St. Petersburg Hermitage Chamber Orchestra, the Sofia State Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Danish Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and others.