Аfter receiving a master's degree in cello performance from the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" in Sofia (under Prof. Anatoli Krastev), Atanas Krastev completed specialized studies at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid (under Prof. Natalia Shakhovskaya). He won several First and Special Prizes at national and international competitions, including awards at the International Jeunesses Musicales Competition Belgrade (Serbia, 2015) and the Liezen International Cello Competition (Austria, 2014). Among his many awards are the Reina Sofia Award for chamber music (bestowed by Queen Sofia of Spain herself), the Golden Century Award from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, the Golden Muse Award for the performance of Russian music, the Crystal Lyre and many others.
He attended master classes with David Geringas, Natalia Gutman, Antonio Meneses, Lluis Claret, Young-Chang Cho, and Thomas Demenga.
As a concert performer, Atanas Krastev has appeared in countless European countries and at all of the most prominent Bulgarian podiums and festivals. Since 2002, he has been a member of the "Cellissimo" cello еnsemble with Anatoli Krastev and Kalina Krusteva.
He has taken part in numerous concerts filmed live as well as in music documentaries and studio recordings, broadcast by the National Television of Bulgaria, Radio Television of Serbia, and Brazilian TV Globo.
Atanas Krastev is an Associate Professor at the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" in Sofia and the Artistic Director of the International Cello Festival and Academy "Cellissimo".
Atanas Krastev
