Milen Slavov (Tigard) is a master piano accordionist from Bulgaria. At the age of eight, he began performing publicly. His virtuosity led to his admittance to a prestigious school of traditional Bulgarian folk music. Slavov is well known for his innovative fusion compositions that blend Bulgarian folk music with jazz, pop, and classical music.
Bio
Milen Slavov is a virtuoso musician with a unique musical trajectory that has contributed to his versatility as a composer and performer. After learning to play Bulgarian folk songs on the piano accordion, Slavov began to perform publicly at eight years old. Though he planned to attend the Filip Kutev Music School to continue his studies, the school did not recognize it as a folkloric instrument. In the course of a year, Slavov taught himself to play the tambura (a stringed instrument similar to the mandolin) well enough to earn admittance to the prestigious school. Slavov continued to practice his accordion while undertaking coursework on regional folk traditions, dance, performance, composition, and conducting. After graduation, Slavov formed several bands that gained popularity in Bulgaria and released two albums. He relocated to the United States in 1997 and became a guest lecturer at UCLA’s Ethnomusicology Department. In 2000, the US government granted him permanent residency through the “Artist of Extraordinary Ability” provision. Slavov continues to compose and perform on the piano accordion and is well known for his innovative fusion compositions that blend Bulgarian folk music with jazz, pop, and classical music.
