BIOGRAPHY

Born in Bulgaria, Stefan Bonev began his musical journey at the age of five under the guidance of Antoaneta Vodenicharova at the “National School of Art” in Pleven, where he graduated with honors in 2012. His quest for musical excellence led him to the University of Music and Theater in Hamburg, where he studied with Professor Stepan Simonian and later with Professor Alexandar Madzar. Further honing his skills, he
joined the prestigious class of Professor Eliso Virsaladze at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Italy.

His talent has been recognized on the international stage through his success in various competitions. His most recent triumph was winning both the First and Public Prize at the 2023 Epinal International Piano Competition. Other notable accolades include the Liszt Prize at the Franz Liszt Competition in Weimar, the “Grand Prix” at the Franz Schubert Competition in Russe, Bulgaria, the 1st prize at the International
Competition Young Virtuosos in Sofia, Bulgaria, and 2nd place along with two special prizes at the Pantcho Vladigerov Competition in Shumen, Bulgaria. Additionally, he was a semifinalist at both the 2022 Sendai International Music Competition and the 2023 Gian Battista Viotti Competition.

The young pianist has graced the stages of numerous prestigious venues and festivals across the globe. His performances have taken him to cities such as Vienna, Weimar, Mannheim, Hamburg, Warsaw, Tokyo, Bucharest, Sofia, Porto, and Sao Paulo. He has participated in esteemed festivals like the Santa Cecilia Piano Festival and the Kawaii Concert Series, and has performed at iconic venues including the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, Yamaha Ginza Hall in Tokyo, Rotonde
Theater at Thaon-les-Vosges, and Hitachi Systems Hall in Sendai. His orchestral collaborations have featured performances with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metz National Orchestra.

In 2020, Stefan was selected to record Beethoven’s Bagatelles Op. 126 with the NDR Radio, showcasing his interpretative depth and maturity. Recently, he was honored with the Fluegel-Fundus Stiftung award, which facilitated his debut at the prestigious Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. In 2024, he made his South American debut in Sao Paulo, Brazil, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable and versatile pianist on the international circuit.