Daniela Mineva, piano
Hailed by critics as a “vibrant and expressive
performer who could steal the show in every concert” (New York Times) and
“energetic and lively pianist who displaces power and delicacy in nuanced
sensitivity along with virtuoso technique” ( The Baltimore Sun), DANIELA MINEVA’s
unique approach to standard repertory, combined with the performance and
dedication of works by living composers, make her in demand as one of the most
promising young concert artists.
Ms. Mineva has won prizes from numerous
international and national competitions including the 2007 Jean Francaix piano
competition in Paris, France, the 1998 Steinway International Piano
Competition, the International Competition " Music and the Earth "
Sofia, Bulgaria, among many others. During the Piano Meeting Festival 2007 in
San Danielle, Italy, she was awarded with the prize “Highest artistic level of
performance” for her solo recital at the festival. In collaboration with the
composer Vera Ivanova, the 8th International Completion for new
music, Orléans, France awarded them with the “Prix André CHEVILLION- Yvonne BONNAUD sous l’égide
de la FOUNDATION DE FRANCE” for the solo piano piece “Aftertouch”, written for
Daniela Mineva.
Orchestral engagements and solo recitals included the most prestige venues
in Bulgaria, USA, Italy, France, Russia, Germany and China. Together with violinist partner Bin Huang,
after series of chamber music concerts in USA and China, they are going to
record two CD’s with music written for violin and piano in season 2011/2012.
A strong proponent of new music, Ms. Mineva has
collaborated with many young and established composers as well as performing
with groups and working in societies for new music like Speculum Musica- New
York, OSSIA- Rochester, Twenty One and
the International Society for Pianists and Composers. She has premiered and
commissioned works by many North American and European masters. Her first CD
“Volume One” presents Daniela’s passion for the music of our time and its
connection to the past masters. Her performances have been heard on WXXI 91.5,
Bulgarian National Radio, TV-Chanal 1, TV-SAT, Bulgaria and Radio France
Musique. Ms. Mineva was a recipient of fellowships to Tanglewood Music
Festival, Institute for Contemporary Music, New York, Liberace Foundation for
Performing Arts, “Open Society” and New Symphony Orchestra, Sofia, Bulgaria
As a
devoted teacher and educator Dr. Mineva has taught at Eastman School of Music, Concordia
University- Chicago, University of North Texas, Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop,
Hochstein School of music- Rochester, NY, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp-
Michigan. In a result of her teaching accomplishments, in 2007, she was awarded
with the prize “TA excellence of teaching” by the Eastman School of Music. Ms.
Mineva has presented master classes and workshops throughout U.S, Europe and
Asia. Currently, she is Assistant Piano Professor and Director of Keyboard
Studies at Humboldt State University, California.
Born in Bulgaria, she began piano lessons at the
age of five with her mother as her first teacher. Daniela graduated from Sofia
Music Academy with the Bachelor of Music degree and the Master of Music degree
in Piano Performance and Choral Conducting. She also holds the Master of Music
degree in Piano Performance and the Outstanding Graduate Diploma from the
University of North Texas. Her impressive list of honors includes also Artist
Certificate from Northwestern University and the Doctor of Music Arts degree
and the Performance Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Her principal
teachers include Natalya Antonova, Ursula Oppens, Pamela Mia Paul, Geni
Zacharieva and Julia Girginova. She has also worked closely with Emmanuel Ax,
Frederic Rzewski, Bright Sheng, Pamela Frank, Paul Bodura-Scoda, Joseph
Kalichstein, and Sherril Milnes.