Ivan Kyurkchiev began his first violin lessons at the age of 5. Later he continued his studies at the National School of Music in violin and classical singing under the guidience of Maestro Georgi Deliganev. He graduated from the State Academy of Music in Sofia where he studied opera singing with Prof. Elena Kiselova.

 

After his graduation, Ivan Kyurkchiev was awarded a special prize of from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture – the prestigious state scholarship to study at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. For two consecutive seasons, Ivan Kyurkchiev worked under the guidance of the legendary Giulietta Simionato, Giuseppe di Stefano and Luciano Silvestri.

 

In 1984, Ivan Kyurkchiev won the Enrico Caruso Tenor Competition in Milan, which launched his international carreer. He sang in major theaters such as the Arena di Verona, Torre del Lago, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro San Carlo, Teatro Reggio di Torino, Opera Marseille, Maggio Fiorentino, Bolshoi Theater and Carnegie Hall to name a few.