Ilia Tchernaev

• Education

In 2012 Tchernaev was awarded a PhD Degree.

BM and MM in Piano Performance
National Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov”, Sofia, Bulgaria
1987-1991

High School Studies
National Music School ”Liubomir Pipkov”, Sofia, Bulgaria
1982-1987

• Master Courses and classes

1991 – International Summer Academy “Mozarteum” in Salzburg, Austira
1991 – International Summer Academy in Brussels, Belgium

Prof. Marcello Abbado
Prof. Germaine Mounier
Prof. Aquilles Delle-Vigne Fabri
Prof. Tatiana Nikolaeva
Prof. Julia & Konstantin Ganevi
Prof. Milena Kurteva
Prof. Lidia Kuteva

• Competitions, Awards, Honors:

2006 II prize at the International Piano Duo Competition “SEILER” in Rethimno, Greece
2000 III prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Tokyo, Japan
1998 I prize and Grand Prix at the International Competition “TIM” for chamber music and piano duo in Rome, Italy
1996 I prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Caltanissetta, Italy
1990 III prize and Jacques Klein award for the best performance of a Mozart concerto at UNISA, International Piano Competition in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
1989 I prize at the National Piano Competition CHOPIN in Sofia, Bulgaria
1989 Honour from the Poland Ministry of Culture for the concert tour
1987 I prize at the International Piano Competition “MARSALA” in Marsala, Italy
1983 III prize at the International Piano Competition “USTI NAD LABEM” in Czech Republic

Prof. D-r Ilia Tchernaev’s students are laureates of over than 100 national and international piano competitions in Bulgaria, France, Italy, Holland, Romania, Austria, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Portugal, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Author of the book “The Stage – Golgotha, Narcotic or Daily Routine…”, published in March, 2011.

In June 2014 Prof. D-r Tchernaev led an Erasmus master-classe in the Konservatorium Wien University, Austria; in April 2015 – in the University of Nis, Serbia; in October 2015 – in the music school “Music`all” in London, Great Britain, in February 2017 – at “Valletta International Piano Festival” in Malta.

• Solo Recitals and Chamber Performance

Prof. D-r Tchernaev has numerous recitals and concerts with orchestras in Bulgaria, Italy, South African Republic, Namibia, Poland, Greece, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Great Britain.
He has played as a soloist with all major orchestras in Bulgaria and South African Republic. He was a soloist with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Varna Philharmonic Orchestra, Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra, Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra, Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra, Dobrich Chamber Orchestra, South Africa National Symphonic Orchestra, Cape Town Symphonic Orchestra, Transvaal Symphonic Orchestra, Natal Philharmonic Orchestra etc.
He has participated at International Music Festivals in Bulgaria, Italy and South African Republic. He has a national and world premier of piano and piano duo compositions by Rameau, Ligeti, Prokofiev, Britten, Schnitke, Denev, Mladenov etc.

• Recordings

Bulgarian National Television – Bulgaria
Bulgarian National Radio – Bulgaria
SABC – South Africa Broadcasting

• Employment

Professor, Head of Piano Department
National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”
2018 – present

Professor – Applied Piano
National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”
Instrumental department, Sofia, Bulgaria
2017 – present (full time)

Associate Professor – Applied Piano
National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”
Instrumental department, Sofia, Bulgaria
2013 – 2017 (full time)

Assistant Professor – Applied Piano
National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”
Instrumental department, Sofia, Bulgaria
1992 – 2004 (part time), 2004 – 2013 (full time

Visiting Professor – Applied Piano
National Music School “Liubomir Pipkov”
Sofia, Bulgaria
January 2002 – June 2002 (full time)