Dimitar Nikolov, Conductor

Dimitar Nikolov, DMA is the Conductor for the Washington International Chorus.  A native of Bulgaria, Dr. Nikolov received his Master of Music degree from the State Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria, a Master of Music degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and, in 2003, his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

He has extensive experience in orchestral and choral conducting and in opera.  He teaches piano, theory and composition at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD, is the Director of the choir at Unity Center of Light in Bowie, MD and serves as Assistant Conductor of the Prince Georges Choral Society.  In 2010, he was guest conductor of the Newark Symphony Orchestra. 

Other recent appearances have been as guest conductor with orchestras in Bulgaria, the Hungarian Opera in Cluj, Romania, Klasica Orchestra, St. Petersburg, Russia and the Piedmont Symphony in Winchester, VA.  He has appeared in piano and chamber music recitals in the Washington Metro area.  His opera experience includes the conducting and vocal coaching with the music programs at Catholic University, Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, Des Moines Metro Opera, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa and the Burgas State Opera. 

His awards include the Pantcho Bladigerov Award for composition from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, First place in piano at the Svetoslav Obretenov National competition for Young Musicians, Winner of the Young Artists Competition for Young Conductors of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in Austria, and an Aspen Conducting Fellowship Award.