Lora Dimitrova-Watson

LORA DIMITROVA Lora was born in Bulgaria but after traveling and performing around the world as a classical solo artist, she settled in England. During her career as a soloist and a chamber musician Lora won prizes at numerous prestigious competitions such as “J.S.Bach” in Germany, “Young Pianists Virtuosi” in Czechoslovakia, “Maria Callas” in Greece, and Chimay Competition in Belgium. In the UK she was awarded BP music scholarship, Arthur Boyd scholarship, Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) contract, Parkhouse Award chamber music award, and many others. As well as performing mainly as a soloist, Lora has played with many instrumentalists and ensembles. Highlights of her career as a performer were concerts in the Salzburg Music Festival with the LSO and Sir Georg Solti, her debuts at the Barbican and Royal Festival Hall in London, Concert House in Vienna, and numerous other concert halls around Europe and the United States. She has recorded 5 CDs, two of which with classical music, one with contemporary British piano music, and the last two – with jazz. She dedicates her working life now to running her private music school (Sospiro Piano Centre) and being Head of Keyboards for Bromley Music Services. She plays keyboards for electronic renaissance rock band Crisium and Piano in her own jazz quartet Salora. In her personal time, she cares for her family and her 3 Persian cats, plays her 5 pianos and keyboards – and in her spare time keeps fit by jogging and yoga.