Viara Stefanova
Viola
Viara Stefanova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she began studying violin at the age of seven. At age twelve, she won First Prize in the National Youth Violin Competition. She later began studying viola at the National Music School in Sofia.
While still a student, Stefanova joined an International Youth Orchestra, which performed in Thessaloniki, Greece; Leipzig, Germany; and at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1998, she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from the State Conservatory of Music in Sofia.
In 1999, she joined the State Opera and Ballet as Principal Violist. During her tenure, she toured extensively and performed at summer festivals in Madrid, Santander, and Bilbao, Spain; Bern, Switzerland; and Athens, Greece, where she performed at the Acropolis. She also appeared in Seoul, South Korea; Tokyo, Nagoya, Hiroshima; and other cities throughout Japan.
Stefanova moved to the United States in 2002 to pursue graduate studies and earned a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. During this time, she performed with the Houston Opera and Ballet, the San Diego Symphony, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. With the New World Symphony, she performed at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Since 2007, Stefanova has been a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. She maintains a private teaching studio and serves as a viola coach for the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition, she performs chamber music throughout the Charlotte area and occasionally appears with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
In her free time, Viara enjoys gardening and hiking, but her passion is traveling and exploring new places.
How did you choose your instrument?
I started playing violin, but I didn't like the high pitch right under my ear. The viola's mellow sound fits me much better, I think.
What's your best or most memorable concert experience as a musician?
One concert that I will never forget is playing with Plácido Domingo in Santiago de Compostela. It was during the annual pilgrimage in the summer, and many people had come from other cities — and even from different countries — for this event. The concert was under the stars, and his voice sounded divine.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am an adventurer.
