Ivan Varimezov

Bulgarian Gajda, Bitov Ensemble

Ivan Varimezov was born in Bulgaria, studied folk music at Kotel High School for Folk Music and received a M.A. degree in folk instrument pedagogy and choral conducting from the Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance. Raised in the traditions of his native region of Strandzha, he is one of the outstanding gajda (bagpipe) players of his generation, and he has many solo recordings and awards in his name. During the 1980s Ivan was an instrumental soloist in the Trakia Folk Ensemble; and later he directed the orchestra of the regional Ensemble Pazardzhik.

During the 1990s he was a soloist for a number of professional ensembles in Sofia, including the Bulgarian National Ensemble Filip Koutev, the National Orchestra of Bulgarian folk music at the Bulgarian National Radio. He also performed as a solo bagpiper around the world with The Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria, The Angels Choir (Angelite), Les Grands Voix Bulgares, Balkanfolk, and Trio Bojura.

Ivan taught Balkan folk music at UCLA 2001-2021 as a professor in the Department of Ethnomusicology. During that time, he organized many concerts for UCLA students all across California. Ivan also led Bulgarian tours and concerts for the students of his UCLA Balkan Ensemble and other groups and choirs. He also has taught students and instrumental groups from around the world, including: Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, Pomona College in California, and the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Crete.

Ivan has been awarded numerous honors for his work. In 2018 he received the highest “Crystal Medal” award from the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers for his outstanding contribution to the development of Bulgarian musical culture. The same year he was recognized for his lifetime contribution to Bulgarian folk music at the Bulgarian Annual Music Folklore Awards. And in 2021 Ivan received a diploma for his promotion of Bulgarian folk music in the U.S. from the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs.