PETER KERKELOV

.BIO

General information

Peter Kerkelov (1984) is a composer possessing ascetic sincerity and profound straightforwardness His works very often cross over the limits of mere sonic games and aim to the fields of philosophy, to those other art forms – elements of which he integrates in his conceptions.

Compositions

Highlights in his creative work include:

  • 2023, ‘Songs of the Primitive I’ commissioned by Goethe Institut-Bulgaria and written for Viktoriia Vitrenko.
  • 2023, commission by Radio France for ‘Serpents and Doves’ written for Les Cris de Paris, cond. by Geoffroy Jourdain.
  • 2022-2023, duermevela interlude and epilogue for orchestra, commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio.
  • In 2018-2019, commission by State Opera-Plovdiv to write ‘The Pied Piper and the Cars‘ – Music theater-Ballet for children for soprano, bass, two choirs, wind instruments, percussion and electronics. On libretto by Dragomir Yossifov based on self-titled story by Gianni Rodari. Staged by the Russian choreographer Liliya Burdinskaya.
  • In 2015, he wrote ‘Time Etudes‘ for orchestra, two choirs and voice solo, originally commissioned by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France later on to be commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio.
  • In 2017 he was commissioned by Apollonia Festival of Arts to compose ‘Windows and Orangesfor accordion and string orchestra. The piece was premiered by Krassimir Sterev (KLANGFORUM Wien) and Chamber Ensemble Sofia Soloists under Plamen Djouroff.
  • In 2011, he composed ‘Attempt at Screaming‘ for ASKO/Schoenberg Ensemble.
  • As a part of 2010 “New York comes to The Hague” project, he wrote ‘HORO‘ for Bang on a Can-All Stars.
Awards
  • In 2012, Kerkelov won 59th International Rostrum of Composers in Stockholm in “under 30” category with “Attempt at Screaming
  • In 2016, his ‘Time Etudes‘ received “Top 10 recommended work” in “General” category at 63rd International Rostrum of Composers in Wroclaw
  • Finalist at Sentierri Selvaggi Composition Competition, Milano
  • Scholarship from Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung – Bayreuth
  • Twice awarded “Grant for artistic high education” by Schuurman Schimmel-van Outeren Stichting
  • Twice awarded “Scholarship for classical music” by Raina Kabaivanska Foundation
Career

Peter Kerkelov is a freelance composer since 2012.

As of 2017 Kerkelov is represented exclusively by the Dutch Contemporary Music Publishing House DONEMUS 

Currently, he is Associate Professor and head of composition in National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”, Sofia. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor in Ethnomusicology at Institute of Art Studies in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Previous projects include commissions by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Bulgarian National Radio, Dutch Chamber Music Society, Royal Conservatoire-The Hague among others.

Kerkelov’s music has been performed in Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and the USA in distinguished venues such as Konzerthaus Wien, Gaudeamus Music Week, BOZAR Brussels, Teatro Massimo, Palermo in performances by Asko/Schoenberg Ensemble, “Bang on a Can All-Stars”, Ensemble PHACE (Austria), Ensemble “Musica Nova-Sofia”, Sofia Soloists with Krassimir Sterev, Ruysdael Kwartet (The Netherlands), Antonii Baryshevskyi (Ukraine), Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) among others.

Education

Peter Kerkelov holds a PhD degree in Ethnomusicology from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia; a Master’s degree in composition from Royal Conservatoire, The Hague where he studied under Martijn Padding and Guus Janssen; a Master’s in composition from Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMDFA), Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where his teacher was prof. Dimitar Tapkoff. From AMDFA he has also a Bachelor degree in classical guitar and music pedagogy with teachers Milena and Valentin Valchev.

In 2006-2007, as an exchange student he studied composition under prof. Dan Dediu in National University of Music, Bucharest, Romania.

Selected for masterclasses with Louis Andriessen, David Lang and Kaija Saariaho.

Testimony

THE INAPPROPRIATE MAN CALLED THE COMPOSER – Peter Kerkelov about Peter Kerkelov. 

Video testimony in Russian with English, Bulgarian and Greek subtitles:

.NEWS

New Opera Premier

Peter Kerkelov's new music-theater/ballet for children "The Pied Piper and the Cars" commissioned by State Opera - Plovdiv took place on 26.10.2019 at the "Boris Christoff" House of Culture, Plovdiv Bulgaria. The libretto, written by Dragomir Yossifov and based on a...

Obtained PhD in Ethnomusicology

Kerkelov obtained a PhD degree in Ethnomusicology from the Art Studies Institute of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences under the scientific supervision of prof. Goritza Naidenova. His dissertation "Vocal ornamentation in Bulgarian traditional music. Notational aspects of...

Commission for a new opera by State Opera – Plovdiv

State Opera - Plovdiv commissioned Peter Kerkelov to write an opera, which will be premiered in season 2019/2020. The new opera "The Pied Piper and the Cars" will be a music-theater/ballet for children on a libretto by Dragomir Yossifov, based on a self-titled story...

Commission by Trio Imàge

The Berlin based piano trio Trio Image commissioned Peter Kerkelov for a new piece, which will premiered in Germany in 2019.

Commission by ppIANISSIMO International Festival

ppIANISSIMO International Festival of Contemporary Piano Music has commissioned Peter Kerkelov for its 2018 edition. The new composition for piano solo will be written for and premiered by the renowned Armenian pianist Hayk Melikyan.

.LISTEN

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PETER KERKELOV

.EVENTS

t.b.a. 2023             New composition Les Cris De Paris (France)
under Geoffroy Jourdain
Radio France Recording Studio,
Paris, France
22.12. Night and Day Hymns Antonii Baryshevskyi (Ukraine) National Philharmonic Concert Hall,
Kiev, Ukraine
09.11. The Piece Piper and the Cars Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv

Cond: Dragomir Yossifov
Choreographer/director: Liliya Burdinskaya (Russia)
3D scenography: Petko Tanchev
Artist: Ventzislav Dikov
Costumes: Maria Manuilova (Russia)

“Boris Christoff House of Culture” Concert Hall, Plovdiv, BG
26.10. The Piece Piper and the Cars Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv

Cond: Dragomir Yossifov
Choreographer/director: Liliya Burdinskaya (Russia)
3D scenography: Petko Tanchev
Artist: Ventzislav Dikov
Costumes: Maria Manuilova (Russia)

“Boris Christoff House of Culture” Concert Hall, Plovdiv, BG
15.09. Ecstatic eruptions… Trio Imàge (Berlin) Duisburger Philharmoniker,
Duisburg, Germany
30.03. Coordinates of a Temple Ensemble CRUSH (Germany) March Music Days Festival,
Ruse, BG
10.12. Night and Day Hymns Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) Komitas Museum,
Yerevan, Armenia
27.04. Night and Day Hymns Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) Bulgarian National Radio Concert Hall, Sofia, BG
(during ppIANISSIMO FESTIVAL)
19.11. Attempt at Screaming Thallein Ensemble (UK) BOZAR, Brussels, BL
25.10. Coordinates of a Temple Ensemble CRUSH (Germany) Bulgarian National Radio, Sofia, BG
(during Agitato Sofia Chamber Festival)
25.10. Attempt at Screaming Ensemble Musica Contemporanea V. Bellini Conservatory Teatro Massimo, Palermo, IT
(during Settimane di nuova musica)
15.10. Horo Contemporanea Interactive Art Ensemble Sofia Live Club, National Palace of Culture,
Sofia, BG
(during Concordia Festival)
30.08. Windows and Oranges Krassimir Sterev (KLANGFORUM Wien) and Sofia Soloists, under Plamen Djouroff Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol, BG
19.05. Attempt at Screaming Ensemble Musica Contemporanea V. Bellini Conservatory Scarlatti Hall, V. Bellini Conservatory, Palermo, IT
31.03. Attempt at Screaming Thallein Ensemble (UK) Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham, UK
11.12. Attempt at Screaming Thallein Ensemble, UK BOZAR, Brussels
22-26.02. Time Etudes Orchestra and Female Choir of Bulgarian National Radio with
Reut Rivka Shabi-soprano (Israel) under Dragomir Yossifov
Recording Sessions at the
Bulgarian National Radio
05.03. Attempt at Screaming Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov Chamber Hall “Bulgaria”
Sofia, Bulgaria
11-12.12. Two Symphonies and Postumus Frosch String Quartet Recording Sessions at the

Bulgarian National Radio

23.10. Horo Ensemble PHACE
Under Simeon Pironkoff
Konzerthaus Wien
Berio-saal
Vienna, Austria
20.10. Horo Ensemble PHACE
Under Simeon Pironkoff
Konzerthaus Wien
(100th Anniversary) Schubert-saal
Vienna, Austria
04.04. Two Symphonies and Postumus Frosch String Quartet Union of Bulgarian Composers (UBC) Hall
Sofia, Bulgaria
11.11. Two Symphonies and Postumus Ruysdael Kwartet Diligentia Theater
The Hague, The Netherlands
(100th Anniversary Dutch Chamber Music Society)
07.09. Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics Reut Rivka Shabi – voice

Peter Kerkelov – guitar

Huis a/d Werf
Utrecht, The Netherlands
(during Gaudeamus Music Week)
21.05. Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics Veronique van der Mijeden – voice

Yiannys Giagourtas – guitar

Korzo theater
The Hague, The Netherlands
25-26.10. Attempt at Screaming Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov Recording Sessions at the
Bulgarian National Radio
05.09. …in memoriam Dimitar Tapkov “Without External Sound” Reut Rivka Shabi – voice
Paula Brouwer – perc.
Royal Conservatoire The Hague
24.06. Attempt at Screaming Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov UBC Concert Hall
Sofia, Bulgaria
16.04. Attempt at Screaming ASKO/Schoenberg Ens.

under Bas Wiegers

Korzo theater
The Hague, The Netherelands
15.04. Attempt at Screaming ASKO/Schoenberg Ens.
under Bas Wiegers
World Music and Dance Center
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
14.03. Horo (for orchestra) Vratsa Symphony Orchestra under Valeri Vachev UBC Concert Hall (during New Music Preview Festival)
Sofia, Bulgaria
07.03. Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics Olga Mihailova – voice
Valentin Valchev – guitar
UBC Concert Hall
(during New Music Preview Festival)
Sofia, Bulgaria
19.04. Eremia Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov  UBC Concert Hall
(during New Music Preview Festival)
Sofia, Bulgaria
12.04. Horo (for amplified ens.) Bang on a Can All-Stars
(New York)
Korzo theater –
The Hague, The Netherelands

.WORKS

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.PUBLISHER

All works by Peter Kerkelov are exclusively published by DONEMUS.

Find Peter Kerkelov’s scores in DONEMUS’ catalogue

Donemus (compounded from Documentatiecentrum NederlandseMuziek) is the Dutch institute dealing with the documentation of contemporary music composed in the Netherlands. Founded in 1947 it published thousands of scores and produced all instrumental parts.

After 2000 it merged with organizations like Centrum voor Nederlandse Muziek (CNM), RIM, Gaudeamus and the NPI.

After 65 years the government stopped the subsidy and starting from January 2013 a small Donemus continued on a commercial basis.

.CONTACTS

Contact me trough email :

peter.kerkelov[at]gmail.com