Background
Emil Tabakov was born in Ruse, Bulgaria.
Emil Tabakov was born in Ruse, Bulgaria.
In 1974 he studied at the Bulgarian State Music Academy with Todor Toshev, Marin Goleminov and Vladi Simeonov. He graduated with a diploma in conducting and double-bass in 1974 and in composition in 1978.
Tabakov"s first engagement as a conductor was from 1976-1979 with the Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1979 to 1987 he served as Music Director and Conductor of the Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra. He was appointed Principal Conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987, and again served in this position from 1998-2000.
From 1994-2000 he was Artistic Director and Conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2014 he is the conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1997 Tabakov served as Bulgarian Minister of Culture.
Tabakov mainly composes for large ensembles, including symphonies and instrumental concertos.
Winner of the Nikolai Malko International Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen (1977) Musician of the Year of the Bulgarian National Radio (1992) "Crystal Lyre" (2009) Union of Musicians in Bulgaria. Nominated for "Manitoba of the Year" (1992) by the International Bibliographic Centre in Cambridge, England.
