Elitsa Todorova

in Kotel, specializing in authentic folklore

singing; and the "Dobri Hristov" school of

music in Varna, specializing in percussions.

She then graduated from the "P. Vladigerov"

State Academy of music in Sofia, majoring in

percussions. She attracts both,

the audiences 'and the critics' attention by her

specific voice - strong, deep-toned, clear and hardy,

the tone-quality being one of beautiful and

rich ornamentation.

Todorova worked as a soloist at the State Dance

and Music Ensemble in Varna and the The Mystery

of the Bulgarian voices" Cosmic Voices of

Bulgaria" Choir where she performed authentic Bulgarian

folk songs, and compositions in Yiddish and Sanskrit.

In 2003 Elitsa Todorova began working with Bulgaria's

most popular and renowned drummer and percussionist Stoyan

Yankoulov. The unique Elitsa Todorova-Stoyan Yankoulov Duo

turned into a phenomenon in no time. Their high

professionalism and perfectionism underlies all their

performances.

Elitsa Todorova develops a percussions-playing style

of her own, combining quick ostinate rhythms on the

tarambuka with synhronized tarambuka with synchronized

playing and singing. The result is a mosaic of unique

vocal movements and impeccable musical improvisations.

She plays traditional percussion instruments in a most

non-traditional way. The singer easily mixes traditional

folklore with jazz, drum and base, ethno-motifs, classics

and spontaneous improvisation.

The result is fascinating. A magnetic voice and percussion

tell us their folklore-jazz story. In her repertoire Elitsa

Todorova plays instruments like the tarambuka, drums, maracas,

clavess, old silver coins, shepperd'schimes, horses' bells,

a magical thunder-wand, guirro, chimes, but of all musical

instruments the best, in her opinion, is human voice. Through

combining authentic Bulgarian folk songs with the energy of

percussions Elitsa Todorova presents in a most touchng way

the core, the potency and the emotional power

of Bulgarian culture.

She has been working with: "The Cosmic Voices of Bulgaria"

Choir, "Varna Ensemble", "The Mystery of the Bulgarian voices"

and the musicians: Stoyan Yankoulov, Theodosii Spassov, Ivo

Pappazov, Antonii Donchev, Jivko Petrov, Vesselin Vesselinov,

Rossen Zahariev, Michail Yossifov, Vasko Vassilev, Arabel Fon

Karajan, Anatoly Vapirov, Roushi Vidinliev, Rui Junior,

Pamela Nicolson, Okhai Temiz, Yamar Tiyam, Nikos Тouliatos,

William Pluma, Habib Shamandy, Ivan Shopov DJ Cooh,

Hristo Yotzov the Bulgarian National Radio orchestra,

Classic FM Radio orchestra and many others.

She has taken part in concerts in Japan, Canada, Finland,

France, Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Luxembourg,

Greece, Poland, Turkey, Hungary, Switzerland, Croatia,

Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine, Belarus,

Italy and in Africa.

Elitsa Todorova has presented Bulgarian cultural heritage

before the presidents of Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Hungary;

before H.M. Prince Albert, Koidjiro Matsura of UNESCO, PACE

ministers. She took part in 2005 most significant cultural

event-the launching of cultural corridors for South-East Europe.

Elitsa Todorova has been given the following awards:

The Golden Phenomenon statuette for 2005, for her phenomenal

achievements in the field of the singing and performing arts

and for promoting Bulgarian culture around the world;

A Honorary Diploma from the Republic of Austria's Embassy

for her great contribution to popularizing Bulgarian Jazz music

to Austria within the Step across the border 2005 European

Program.

"A mysterious, exotic and hot-blooded singer" 2005

Zlatna Kostova

*********************************************************************

Awards:

Elitsa Todorova has been awarded

with the following awards:

2008 April: BG Radio Music Awards:

Special award, golden statuette: BG

Ambassador of the Bulgarian culture

across the world

Golden statuette for Bulgarian song

for 2007 - "Water"

Golden statuette for Bulgarian duet

2007 December: GRAZIA magazine's award

"Woman of the year in category Music"

2007 October : Crystal Lyre Award in

category Pop and Rock Music

2007 June: Statuette for the best

video of the song "Water" - MAD TV

Greece in Athens

2007 June: Statuette "Orpheus"–Smolian city

2007 May: An award of honour from the

Bulgarian Parliament and from the

Ministry of Environment and Water

of Bulgaria.

2005: Statuette "Golden Phenomenon"-

for phenomenal achievements in the area

of singing and instrumental arts and for

the presentation of the Bulgarian culture

across the world.

2005: Crystal Lyre Award in category Jazz

2005: Award from the Republic of Austria

for the big contribution to the popularization

of the Bulgarian jazz music in Austria,

in accordance with the European program

"Step across the border"

Since February 2008, Elitsa Todorova has

become an official representative of the

Eco-campaign „Let's plant a tree"!

Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov were the participates

in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest! Their amazing song

"Voda"("Water") brought to the country fifth place, a

position

Bulgaria had never reached before. After the Semi-Final

where Elitsa and Stoyan gave a flawless and overwhelming

performance, the Bulgarian percussion duet went out on stage

in Hartwall Arena charged with positive energy and determined

to present the Bulgarian grooves and rhythms in the best

possible manner. Everyone could see the emotion in every

stroke of the duet and the large hall erupted in applause

enjoying the three minutes of the Bulgarian percussion show.

Elitsa and Stoyan gave their best performance ever. Elitsa

rocked the hall with her amazingly strong voice for her

delicate body. What is more, she did it, unlike all the

rest of the entrants, without the support of backing vocals.

Elitsa and Stoyan looked comfortable and happy on stage,

which quite naturally brought them the well-deserved position

in the final ranking. Still a toddler in Eurovision, only in

its third year in the Contest, Bulgaria managed to bring to

the fore a song that wins, if not contests, at least the

hearts of millions of lovers of excellent music. They came

to you with rhythm and love!