Nikolay Demerdzhiev (Violin/Viola)

Mr. Nikolay was born in a beautiful town at the Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria. After finishing his high school of music in Burgas, he moved to Sofia, and studied at Sofia State Music Academy where he graduated with three bachelor diplomas in Viola Performance, Music Pedagogy and Sound Engineering.

After visiting a master class of Prof. Christian Euler, principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1984-1991) and Professor for Viola and Chamber Music in Graz Austria (1991 – present), Mr. Nikolay decided to move to Graz to further his music education. In 2007 he graduated from Graz Arts University (Austria) with two Masters degrees: Viola Performance and Viola Pedagogy.

Mr. Nikolay started teaching violin and viola while studying in Graz. In 2008, he was sent from Johann Sebastian Bach Music School (Vienna) to their branch office in Utsunomiya, Japan continue teaching. He later returned to Austria in 2010 to complete his PhD at the Vienna Music University, all the while teaching lessons at the Johann Sebastian Bach Music School.

Mr.Nikolay has taught students from the elementary to the university skill level; but, his speciality is teaching younger students. The Colourstrings Method, developed by Géza Szilvay, is his primary music teaching method. He has obtained the certificates of the first and the second phases of the Colourstrings Method. During his stay in Japan, Mr. Nikolay was able to meet very experienced Suzuki Violin teachers who introduced him to his Suzuki Violin training.

As an experienced orchestral and chamber music player, Mr. Nikolay has been a guest musician in: Malaysia Philharmonic, Sendai Philharmonic (Japan), Maribor Philharmonic (Slovenia) and also with several youth European Orchestra. As a chamber music player, he has played in music halls in Sofia, Graz, Vienna, Tokyo and Sapporo. Some of his chamber music partners are Ryoko Ohashi (Piano), James Rapport (Contrabass), Katrin Honies (Piano&Violonchello), Aidi Lydia Due (Violin) and many others.

Mr. Nikolay’s wish as a teacher is to give only the best quality of musical education to his students. His teacher, Géza Szilvay, once said to him: “Only the best is good enough for our children!

teaching advanced students...”

teaching young stars...

working with kindergarten kids...