Lora Markova, a distinguished Bulgarian violinist, began her musical journey at the age of five at the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov” in Sofia, under the guidance of Blagorodna Taneva. From a young age, her extraordinary talent and dedication set her on a path to becoming one of the most promising violinists of her generation. Since 2022, she has been honing her artistry under the esteemed Prof. Kolja Blacher at the Academy of Music “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin.
Lora’s early successes in national competitions, such as “Young Virtuosos” (2013), “Dobrin Petkov” (2013), and “Nedyalka Simeonova” (2014), paved the way for an illustrious career. She was awarded the Grand Prix at “Music and Earth” (2018) and “Hopes, Masters, Talents” (2019). Internationally, Lora has garnered top honors at prestigious competitions, including the “Andrea Postacchini” and “Piccolo Violino” in Italy, the “Anton Rubinstein” in Germany, and the “Odesa” in Ukraine. In 2020, she achieved First Prize at the International Violin Competition “Leonid Kogan” in Brussels, followed by First Prize at the “Tibor Varga Junior” Violin Competition in Switzerland in 2021. These accolades have led to numerous concert invitations and a special engagement with the Swiss Artist Agency “AMG Rising Stars,” performing in Basel and Geneva.
As a soloist, Lora has captivated audiences at renowned festivals and prestigious venues, including “Colorful Days of Bulgaria” in Germany, “Musica Mundi” in Belgium, and “Treasures of Bulgaria” at Carnegie Hall in New York. Her performances across France, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, and Austria have seen her collaborate with eminent conductors such as Domenico Mason, Giancarlo Guarino, Leonid Kerbel, Marek Šedivý, and Alexander Gordon.
In her native Bulgaria, Lora is a sought-after soloist, frequently performing with leading philharmonic orchestras in cities including Pleven, Vidin, Vratsa, Shumen, Sliven, and Sofia. She has worked alongside distinguished conductors like Emil Tabakov, Grigor Palikarov, Yordan Kamdzhalov, Maxim Eshkenazy, and Pavel Zlatarov, cementing her reputation as a leading figure in Bulgarian classical music.
Lora’s passion for chamber and ensemble music is a cornerstone of her artistic identity. She regularly collaborates with leading musicians of her generation, as well as established artists at prominent festivals across Germany, Finland, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. In 2021, her duo with cellist Syon Najman won First Prizes at the “Music and Earth” and “Cantus Firmus” competitions in Sofia, along with the Special Prize of the “Bohuslav Martinu” Foundation at the “Concertino Praga” International Competition. Their successful 2023 tour included performances in Prague, Paris, Berlin, Antwerp, and Sofia.
Lora’s dedication to ensemble playing has led her to perform at prestigious music festivals, including the Gstaad Menuhin Academy in Switzerland, the Lead Festival in Finland, the Stradivari Fest in Switzerland, the Allegra Festival in Bulgaria, and the Niederlenzer Musiktage in Switzerland. She has shared the stage with acclaimed musicians such as Boris Garlitsky, Thomas Riebl, Alexander Zemtsov, Andrey Baranov, Stefan Tarara, Sergey Malov, Kyril Zlotnikov, and members of the Stradivari Quartet.
In recognition of her extraordinary talent, Lora was awarded the Leonidas Kavakos Scholarship in 2021. She currently performs on a rare 1869 violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, generously provided by the “Villa Musica” Foundation in Germany.
Lora Markova continues to push the boundaries of her art, blending her rich cultural heritage with a forward-looking vision, as she shapes a distinctive and influential presence on the global classical music stage.