Lora Dimitrova

Lora Dimitrova (Лора Димитрова, born 9 September 1962) is a Bulgarian classical pianist, teacher and leader in music education.

She lives in the United Kingdom.

Dimitrova was born on 9 September 1962 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

She received her early musical training at the "Lyubomir Pipkov" National Music School in Sofia in the piano class of Milena Kurteva.

From 1981 to 1987 she attended the "Pancho Vladigerov" National Academy of Music in Sofia where she studied with Julia and Konstantin Ganevi, pupils of the celebrated pedagogue, Heinrich Neuhaus.

She was thus immersed in this Russian School of piano playing for the 20 formative years of her piano education.

Dimitrova graduated with honours from the four year performance diploma course in 1985 and was one of the two students selected to take the two year advanced masterclass diploma (premier prix) which she gained in 1987.

Lora was also appointed part-time assistant to the Ganevi’s piano class in the Academy in 1985, teaching both undergraduate and post-graduate students whilst studying for her advanced diploma – a position she held until she left the country.

Notable debut performances during this time include

At this time, Bulgaria was part of the Eastern Bloc under Soviet control and apart from travel to compete (Senigallia, Italy; Leeds International Piano Competition, UK; Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, USA; International Music Competition “Maria Callas” Piano, Greece), Dimitrova was unable to perform in the West or have access to Western recordings.

However, following success at the Maria Callas competition and subsequent auditions, she received an offer with scholarships to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London (UK).

After many challenges, she finally obtained the precious Bulgarian visa at the end of 1988 to study in the West.

Dimitrova studied in the advanced piano class at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London in 1989/1990 and was awarded the Sherrifs' prize for Performance and the Premier Prix diploma.

Whilst studying there she entered the YCAT (then Young Concert Artists Trust, now Young Classical Artists Trust) competition for management and promotion and was chosen as one of their artists in 1989 and thus began a busy performing schedule in the UK and Europe.

In Bulgaria, Dimitrova performed regularly at the Bulgarian Contemporary Music Festival in Sofia, often premiering work by her contemporaries and she continued to champion Bulgarian music in the UK, for example performing works by Emil Mirchev and Pancho Vladigerov at the Brighton Festival in 1990.

Towards the end of the 1990's, with her playing career being hampered by injury, Dimitrova spent increasingly more of her time on these activities.

She has taught and given masterclasses at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Chetham's School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School, Purcell School, Wells Cathedral School, Blackheath Conservatoire and KIPC (Kent International Piano Courses).

She has also lectured at Queen’s University Belfast and Andover College (Hampshire) and given master classes in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

In 1993, Dimitrova had a chance encounter with the conductor Sir Georg Solti.

She had received a phone call asking if she could accompany a singer who was auditioning for Solti but whose pianist had failed to show up.

"It was complete sight-reading” said Dimitrova. "I was given the music – songs by Vaughan Williams – 15 minutes before going into Sir Georg's studio.

I had never met the singer, let alone played with him." Solti said "the singer wasn't anything very much, so I began listening to how well the pianist was playing.” The result was a joint recital at Wigmore Hall in London for Dimitrova and French pianist Patricia Pagny which Solti personally sponsored, promoted and presented.

Dimitrova went on to perform Bartok's third piano concerto with Solti and the London Symphony Orchestra to critical acclaim in festivals in Dresden and Salzburg.

Solti also nominated Dimitrova for the Chimay International Competition for Pianists and Violinists in 1995 (European Chimay Foundation) which she won, leading to further recitals in Europe.

Dimitrova is a Steinway Artist.

Notable debut concerts in her career include:

In 1995, Dimitrova won the Parkhouse Award for Chamber Music, playing with the violinist Hanna Weinmeister.

This award provided concert management for the duo by GBZ Management and resulted in many chamber recitals in London and around the UK.

The duo also played in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Dimitrova has performed in chamber music concerts with numerous violinists and ensembles, including:

Dimitrova has championed contemporary music throughout her career and given several world premiers of important works for solo piano by Bulgarian, English and Belgium composers.

Following her first prize in the Chimay International Competition for Pianists and Violinists in 1995 (European Chimay Foundation, ECF), Dimitrova teamed up with the Belgian composer Frederic Van Rossum performing a number of his works in concerts including at the 1996 Festival of Flanders and giving the world premiere of “Al di la dello scuro” (beyond the dark) on 28 September 1996 in Liege, Belgium.

Dimitrova has often performed the work of English composer Francis Routh and he wrote his 8 movement piano piece, Scenes for Piano IV “Bretagne” (Op.68) for her.

Dimitrova created the curriculum for a Performance and Interpretation course for BMus and MMus students in Canterbury Christ Church University and delivered the course from 1998 to 2008.

She recorded this work for the Redcliffe Recordings label as well as Routh's Angels of Albion (Op 64) and performed it on a tour of England with Routh in 1999.

In the early 2000's Lora created a unique group of musicians known as "Quattro Piano Plus", consisting of 4 pianists (performing at 4 separate pianos) plus a percussionist.

They perform arrangements of popular music from the classical repertoire as well as from films and musicals, often combining multiple genres, rhythms and melodies into a single piece: Dimitrova leads the group and writes the majority of the arrangements.

The Quattro Piano+ group puts on popular shows with video and lighting effects and the group has toured extensively in Europe, most recently in autumn 2023 in Bulgaria with backing provided by the Vidin Philharmonic Orchestra.

The group has released 2 CDs (on the “Hey-U Records” and “Newplay Classical Recordings” labels).

In addition to performing, Dimitrova has taught, delivered master classes and lectures and adjudicated for music competitions.