Elin Kolev

Elin Kolev was born in Zwickau in 1996. In 2006, he was admitted as an exceptionally gifted young student to the University of Music and Theatre Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Leipzig to study with professor Carolin Widmann. Additionally, Elin attended masterclasses with Dr. Friedemann Eichhorn, Thomas Brandis, Reiner Kussmaul, Igor Ozim, Pamela Frank, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Zakhar Bron, Sashko Gawriloff, Pavel Vernikov and Ana Chumachenco. He was also inspired by his participation in the chamber music project “Mit Musik – Miteinander” and the masterclasses of the Kronberg Academy.
Since 2010, he is a student of Professor Josef Rissin at the University of Music Karlsruhe. During this time, he has evolved from a young musician to a highly qualified concert violinist with incredible stage experience. After being a part of the pre-leave class for highly talented students of the University for 3 years, he began his official bachelor`s degree in violin at the same University in 2013.
At the age of eight Elin had his successful debut as a soloist with the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra and inspired an audience of over 5000 people. In 2009, Elin was on his first U.S. tour through Virginia, New York, North Dakota and Arkansas. At the age of 12, the he had his debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall. In furtherance, he received his first personal music instrument of the NewStrad family.
Outside of the concert halls, Elin got a leading role in the film ‘Wunderkinder’, which was produced by Artur und Dr. Alice Brauner. In June 2010, he was selected as one out of 400 children for the role of the Jewish virtuoso violinist Abrascha. In 2011, Elin portrays the young violinist Bronislaw Huberman in the documentary ‘Orchestra of Exiles – Bronislaw Huberman’. The director is the American Oscar-nominated Josh Aronson.
Elin has signed an exclusive recording agreement with Sony Classical at the age of 14 and has recorded the CD ‘Elin Kolev’. This CD was the Classic Radio Germany CD of the week and also in the Radio Classic FM Sofia Top7 for 5 weeks.
He has worked with conductors such as Jirí Malát, Daniel Lipton, Pavel Baleff, Helmut Branny, Andreas Schüller, Lutz de Veer, Wolfgang Rögner, Patrick Gallois, Grigor Palikarov, Daniel Klajner and Jun Märkl. Elin Kolev played in some of Europe’s most prestigious halls such as Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Bulgaria Concert Hall Sofia, Nicolaisaal, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Berlin Philharmonic and New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Elin`s debuts include such orchestras as the MDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Leipzig, the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dresden Cappell Soloists, Germany Filmorchestera Babelsberg, Robert-Schumann-Philharmonic, Classic FM Radio Orchestra, Rouse Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra Jena.
His Festival appearances include the Festival Mitte Europa, the Fränkische Music Festival Alzenau, Arpeggione Music Festival, the Sommets Musicaux Festival de Gstaad, International Festival March Music Days Russe, European Music Festival Sofia.
Elin Kolev was awarded the „Best Young Talent“ and the Sarasate Prize at the IBLA Grand Prize Contest 2008 in Italy. He also recieved the 1. Prize at the V. International Violin Contest Eugène Ysaÿe in Austria, the „European Prix d`espoir 2010“and the „Image Award“ (2011) of the city of Zwickau. In 2012, Elin was honored with the Musical Advancement Award of the Baden Cultural Fund and in 2013 with the Ruth-Flesch Award as a part of the masterclasses at the Carl Flesch Academy Baden-Baden. In June 2014, he was awarded with the prize “Debut 2013” at “Musician of the Year 2013″ Awards of the Bulgarian National Radio.
Performance highlights for the last seasons included the concert of the 19.”Sächsisch/Böhmisches Kulturfestival” as a soloist with orchestral accompaniment and he gave his debut at the 24.Music Meran Festival in Italy, Forum Brixen and Bozen Italy, Kronberg Academy, Verbier Festival Academy Switzerland and at the Varna Summer International Music Festival in Bulgaria.
In the summer of 2015, Elin Kolev was invited to the Seiji Ozawa Academy within which he made his debut in Victoria Hall, Geneva and at the Foundation Louis Vuitton. In 2016 he played with Howard Griffiths in the Tonhalle Zurich. Elin made his debut with the Chursächsischen philharmonic orchestra with the Brahms violin concert, and in October and December, he played the Tschaikowsky violin concert together with the philharmonic orchestra of the Plauen-Zwickau Theater and the symphonic orchestra Leipzig. In 2017 Elin Kolev has been selected by German public-service broadcaster SWR to receive three years of artistic and career support as the current „SWR2 New Talent“.
Elin plays a Lorenzo Carcassi violin from 1749, Florence, sponsored by the Albert Eckstein Foundation.
Updated 13/02/2018 – Please use the most recent biography only