(instrumentalist)
grew up in Pleven, North Bulgaria, studied at the Plovdiv Academy
for Music and Dance, Department of Folk Music, and taught kaval
(vertical wooden folk flute) for ten years in Shiroka Luka -
a specialized national Folk Music High School. He had toured
extensively in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. Mr. Koutchev teaches
kaval and tupan (bass drum) at the Balkan Music and Dance Workshops
on both coasts and throughout the U.S. Among his many awards
is a gold Medal from a World Youth Festival in Germany.
Mr. Koutchev
currently performs with different groups for Balkan music in
the U.S.
"Ivaylo
Koutchev is an outstanding performer whose presentation is of
the highest quality. The workshop in music which he held with
the members of the Princeton University Folk Culture Club was
a special personal experience for everyone who took part in
it. He was able in a few short hours to teach to Americans of
non-Bulgarian heritage traditional music and specific uneven
Bulgarian rhythms. It was an unforgettable evening for all of
us." (Anton Russev, President of the Center for Bulgarian Culture
in America)
"Ivaylo
Koutchev is a wonderful performer and teacher of Bulgarian music.
He is one of the best players of kaval in Bulgaria and in the
U.S. I have enjoyed studying with him on several occasions in
the U.S. I was impressed with his excellent command of the kaval.
I was happy to learn from him many different Bulgarian music
styles, and to have them situated in the cultural context of
the Balkan region." (Bob Snider, kaval player for 10 years,
member of the ensemble "Haide," Columbus, Ohio)