Hertfordshire Society Concert - Pavel Ralev

“Pavel is a poet; the world needs more people like him.” - Aniello Desiderio. Described by Aniello Desiderio as ‘a poet’, the London-based Bulgarian guitarist Pavel Ralev is establishing a strong international presence. Upcoming highlights include his debut at Wigmore Hall under the auspices of the Julian Bream Trust and in the USA at the Long Island Guitar Festival (NY). A top prize-winner, recent awards include 1st Prizes at the 2021 Adelaide (Australia) and Zagreb (Croatia) International Guitar Competitions, and the Bach Prize at the 2020 Koblenz Guitar Competition (Germany). He studied at the Royal Academy of Music (where he was made Associate in the 2023 Honours) with Michael Lewin, Fabio Zanon and David Russell, and completed his Masters at the University of Surrey with Steve Goss. He continues to study with John Williams. In 2022 Pavel toured across Australia giving recitals at the Adelaide Guitar Festival, the MONA Museum in Hobart (Tasmania), the Canberra Classical Guitar Society and the University of Western Australia (Perth). He has received invitations to return in 2024. He has performed and taught widely in Europe appearing at festivals in Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Sarajevo and Croatia. In 2020 he gave recitals for the International Guitar Festival in London at King’s Place Hall One. He regularly returns to Bulgaria to give concerts and teach.Endlessly curious about exploring new music and interesting collaborations, Pavel asked jazz guitarist Ant Law to write a piece for classical guitar, and played the premiere at the Adelaide Guitar Festival. He has worked with composers Jason Noghani, Giacomo Susani, Kiril Boshikyov and Louise Drewett, among others. “Pavel Ralev is a remarkable musician. When he plays, he illuminates the hidden depths of the music, never letting the instrument get in the way. His is profound music making of the highest order.” - Stephen Goss