Elitsa Todorova

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Elitsa Todorova
Elitsa Todorova (left) performing with Stoyan Yankoulov (right)
Elitsa Todorova (left) performing with Stoyan Yankoulov (right)
Background information
Born September 2, 1977 (1977-09-02) (age 30)
Origin Varna, Bulgaria
Genre(s) Bulgarian Folklore,Ethno
Neo-folk
Experimental
Occupation(s) Singer, percussionist
Instrument(s) tarambuka, drums, maraca, claves, chimes, guiro
Years active 1990 – present
Associated acts Stoyan Yankoulov
Website www.elitsatodorova.com

Elitsa Todorova (Bulgarian: Елица Тодорова) (born 2 September 1977) is a Bulgarian folklore singer and professional percussionist. She has worked with a number of noted choirs, ensembles and musicians (Bulgarian and foreign) and has participated in concerts in a number of countries. She has also been awarded several prizes.

In 2003 Elitsa Todorova began working with Bulgaria's most popular and renowned drummer and percussionist Stoyan Yankoulov. The unique Todorova-Yankulov duo rapidly turned into a phenomenon. Their high professionalism and perfectionism underlies all their performances.

On 25 February 2007, Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov's song Water won the Bulgarian National Television's public contest and was selected as the song to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. The song advanced from the semi-final to become Bulgaria's first ever participation in a final. In the final Elitsa and Stoyan came 5th. Her performance, which involved percussion, prompted the nickname Mrs. Drums.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Since her early childhood Elitsa sung and played piano. She studied at the "Philip Koutev" school of music in Kotel, specializing in folklore singing and the Dobri Hristov school of music in Varna, specializing in percussion. She then graduated from the Pancho Vladigerov State Academy of music in Sofia, majoring in percussion.

[edit] Associated acts

Elitsa has been working with Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria Choir, "Varna Ensemble" and the musicians: Stoyan Yankoulov, Theodosii Spassov, Antonii Donchev, Jivko Petrov, Vesselin Vesselinov, Rossen Zahariev, Michail Yossifov, Vasko Vassilev, Arabel von Karajan, Anatoly Vapirov, Roushi Vidinliev, Rui Junior, Pamela Nicolson, Okhai Temiz, Yamar Tiyam, Nikos Тouliatos, William Pluma, Habib Shamandy, Ivan Shopov DJ Cooh, Hristo Yotzov the Bulgarian National Radio orchestra, Classic FM Radio orchestra and many others.

[edit] Style

Elitsa Todorova developed a percussions-playing style of her own, combining quick ostinate rhythms on the tarambuka with synchronized playing and singing. The result is a mosaic of unique vocal movements and impeccable musical improvisations. She plays traditional percussion instruments in a most non-traditional way. In her repertoire Elitsa plays instruments like the tarambuka, drums, maracas, claves, old silver coins, shepherd's chimes, horses' bells, a magical thunder-wand, guiro, chimes, but of all musical instruments the best, in her opinion, is the human voice.

[edit] Philanthropy and other activities

Todorova has presented Bulgarian cultural heritage before the presidents of Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Hungary; before H.M. Prince Albert, Koidjiro Matsura of UNESCO, PACE ministers. She took part in 2005 most significant cultural event-the launching of cultural corridors for South-East Europe.

[edit] Awards

Elitsa Todorova has been given the following awards:The Golden Phenomenon statuette for 2005, for her phenomenal achievements in the field of the singing and performing arts and for promoting Bulgarian culture around the world; A Honorary Diploma from the Republic of Austria's Embassy for her great contribution to popularizing Bulgarian Jazz music to Austria within the Step across the border 2005 European Program.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ News of the World, May 13, 2007.