Spotlight on Bulgarian Flute Music with Iva Lubomirova

Can you give us 5 career highlights?

Become first flute at the age of 20 in Monterey Symphony Orchestra in Mexico.Studying with great teachers in Essen( Germany), Zurich ( CH)
Won a flute professor position in National Music Academy in Sofia, have been a jury member at Bohm flute competition in Munich( Germany) 2025, has given masterclass last year in Neapol Conservatory and Falaut flute summer academy.

How about 3 pivotal moments that were essential to creating the artist that you've become?

Going for flute lessons and discussing life with Aurele Nikolet at his home . Listened Rampal and meeting him as a child in Sofia, participated as a child and meeting for the first time Andras Adorjan at his master class.Listening in life when I was a small kid one of the best Bulgarian musicians as Gena Dimitrova( opera singer) George Badev( violin ) Aleksis Weisenberg( pianist)and many others wich opened the music world for me.

Can you give us a short characteristic of Bulgarian (flute) music culture-some interesting facts, including when compositions of the flute first appeared?

Most of all Bulgarian composers have written for flute from the beginning of 20th centuries till now days. We have a plenty of concertos, sonatas and pieces written for flute. I am a jury member at the oldest and most prominent Competition for musical instruments with separate categories for flute where is obligatory in all rounds to play only Bulgarian music written for flute and all the others instruments. This year the competition took place in April. The name of the competition is Svetoslav Obretenov (a Bulgarian composer).

Can you describe the role and activities of the flute society in Bulgaria? What can you tell us about the international Bulgarian events organized for flutists?

Unfortunately there are no flute association in Bulgaria. But I organize every year a masterclasses at National Music Academy where have been such a prominent flute professors like Mathhio Gosi Aslan,(University of Graz, Austria), Dejan Gavric (University of Mainz, Germany), Gisela Mashaeeki Beer, (University Vienna, Austria), and many others.

Are there flutists cooperating with composers in Bulgaria and ordering new pieces?

Yes, the prominent composer George Arnaudov has written a lot for flute, in 2025 was world premier for works for two flutes (I played it) and this March 2026 was world premier for flute concerto with chamber orchestra he wrote specially for me.

What do you like best about performing?

Making music with different musicians from all over the world, and established so new friendships via music.

What do you like best about teaching?

To see the results and achievements of my students , to open the world of music to young people and helping them to feel the magical power of Arts, to understand that to be a musician is not a job but vocation!

What does your schedule look like for the next 6 months?

I am a jury member at many flute competitions coming soon in Bulgaria.

What are your goals personally? Professionally?

To organize next year a flute music festival in Sofia. Personally-to have more time for my loved ones.

What inspires you the most in life?

Art

What has been your professional greatest challenge?

Playing with broken arm (elbow) as a soloist in March this year!

What has been your personal greatest challenge?

To be become twice a mother of two beautiful girls.

Who were your music mentors? and what did you learn from them?

Andras Adorjan, Aurele Nicolet, Gunter Rumpel, Gunhild Ott,and my first flute teacher Stiliana Stavreva.Music is the most beautiful world, the flute helps us to enter it and make wonders!

Can you give us 5 quirky, secret, fun, (don't think too much about this) hobbies or passions?

I love cinema, paintings, traveling, the sea and good cocktails!

What 3 things would you offer as advice for a young flutist?

To have a goal, to be curious , to do everything with passion.