He is 24 years old, originally from the Bulgarian town of Rakovski, he has spent most of his life in Italy. Stefan Borgodjiisky is currently a student at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, majoring in clarinet, but he is in love with the bagpipe, especially the Rhodope kaba gaida (low-pitched bagpipe).

The first time he heard the irresistible, soulful moan of the kaba gaida was not in Bulgaria, but in Rome. He was still a schoolboy.

Stefan started playing the flute in sixth grade, and it was then that his grandfather from Bulgaria sent him a booklet with pictures of various instruments. The boy was fascinated by the look of the bagpipe. He began to search the internet for information about this wind instrument. "The first time I heard it, I was sitting in front of the computer. When I heard what it sounded like, I got goose bumps. That's when I said, 'No! I have to learn to play this instrument,'" Stefan recalls, adding:

"It was love at first sight. I immediately started researching, trying to learn more about this instrument. And in the summer, when I came back to Bulgaria, in my home town of Rakovski, I met the bagpiper Nikolai Kabaivanov. He made an instrument for me and started teaching me. He would teach me during the holidays, and then I would come back here to Rome for school, but the lessons would continue via Skype. In this way, little by little, I learned to play. I am proud to be a student of Nikolai Kabaivanov, who in turn learned to play the bagpipe from one of the greatest bagpipers in the country - the legendary Dafo Trendafilov," says Stefan.

The Bulgarian, who lives in Rome, takes part in various musical events in his homeland. Last year he won second prize at a bagpipe competition in the Rhodope village of Gela. He admits that he also loves classical music, which is why he chose to study clarinet at the Santa Cecilia Music Academy. The clarinet is the second instrument he learnt to play, after the bagpipe. "Bagpipes are not taught here in Italy, so I took up the clarinet, classical music gives me a lot," says Stefan. But the bagpipe remains his great passion. "It reminds me of my roots, through it I connect my two sides - the Bulgarian and the Italian," says Stefan and explains:

"Bulgarian folklore is amazing! Of course I know it well! Because I play the bagpipe, I play Rhodope folk songs, which are characteristic of the Rhodope kaba gaida. They remind me of Bulgaria. And when you live in another country, it is very exciting. It touches me deeply. In Italy there is no such bagpipe, they have their zampogna, but it is not like our kaba gaida, which has a soft and deep tone with a specific sound. Italians are very impressed when they hear it for the first time. They ask me, "But what kind of sound is that? It's great! Amazing!" A month ago, an Italian guy contacted me on the internet and wanted me to teach him how to play the kaba gaida, imagine that," beams Stefan.

Now the young musician wants to pass on his love of music to the pupils of the Asen and Ilija Peikov Bulgarian Sunday School  in Rome. Lessons with the children will start in early 2024. "And of course we will focus on Bulgarian folk music and the bagpipe," Stefan Borgodjiisky says.