276: Petia Bagovska on Bulgarian bass traditions

Petia Bagovska double bass

It was such a pleasure to catch up with Petia Bagovska in Prague for BASS2016!  I’ve known her for years.  We used to play in some orchestras together when we were both living in Chicago.

When we both realized that we would be in Prague together for the European Bass Congress, we agreed to find a few minutes to catch up and record an interview.

Let’s set the scene…

We’re sitting in the courtyard of the HAMU in Prague on a beautiful October afternoon.

It’s the most perfect weather imaginable. Everyone is outside having a coffee or a beer and a snack, chatting, laughing, trying out basses, and enjoying the experience of being united together as bassists in one of the world’s great cities!

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

We talk about:

  • life as a professional bassist in Bulgaria
  • Petia’s experiences studying in Sofia
  • orchestra life in Bulgaria
  • Petia’s book Double bass: Traditions and future

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By Jason

An active double bass performer and teacher, Jason teaches double bass at DePaul University and served on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Bassists for many years. Jason is the current President of the Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Jason has been a member of the Elgin Symphony since 2000 and has played with the Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door County for the past decade. He is a past member of the Milwaukee Ballet and IRIS Orchestra, and has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, and numerous other professional ensembles.