One of Bulgaria’s most distinguished jazz flutists marks his 70th birthday on October 24 which he will celebrate with a concert along with his colleagues from the Big Band of the BNR. The program of the concerts includes a versatile repertoire of his own compositions, baroque and symphony works, as well as some of his favorite jazz pieces of US composers.
Prof. Simeon Shterev aka the Banana is a flutist, professor and composer, well known not only on the Bulgarian music stage. He loves writing jazz tunes, soundtracks and music for theater productions. He has made a number of recordings for the BNR and the BNT and has released solo albums. Simeon Shterev has graduated the Bulgarian State Conservatory in Sofia (now the National Music Academy) in the flute class of prof. Yordan Kindalov. He laid the start of his career in 1967 with Focus Quartet with which he earned the award of the in 1967 at the Montreux jazz festival. In 1968, he was named best jazz flutist of Europe and the German magazine Jazz Podium ranked his second in the world.
Simeon Shterev has been on the stage for 60 years now. Here is more from what he added:
“I started performing at concerts when I was 10 years old. I played the accordion and the piano in the accordion ensemble at the Palace of Pioneers. At that time, this was the biggest and most reputable orchestra in Sofia. My concert activity started when I was a child. Meanwhile, there was no recording equipment at the BNR. All musicians were playing live and I am talking here about the early 1950s. We made concerts in Bulgaria hall. I have played for 25 years in Symphonietta orchestra with the BNR and then I decided to start a solo career. I have made many recordings in various genres such as chamber, opera, symphonic and jazz music.”
Over the years, Simeon Shterev has earned the recognition of European music critics too who define him as one of the best jazz flutists. His name has been placed in the top of various international jazz charts. During his professional career, he has received numerous awards from festivals.
“My first encounter with a famous foreign artist was at the Berlin Jazz Stage in Eastern Berlin with Maynard Ferguson, a trumpeter of world renown, Simeon Shterev recalls. I will never forget Chick Corea – another big name I have recorded with in Frankfurt”, Simeon Shterev recalls.
In 1974, Simeon Shterev became professor in flute at the Pop Music department of Pancho Vladigeroff Music Academy in Sofia. Here is how he describes his work with students:
“Almost all young musicians and part of the singers currently popular in Bulgaria have been my students. I have played together with many of them. They are talented and continue to walk their paths as solo artists. They are already completed musicians and some of them are at a high European level”.
English version: Rossitsa Petcova
