MARTA SIMIDTCHIEVA (cello) Bulgarian born cellist Marta Simidtchieva is an accomplished string educator, a passionate performer with uncompromising artistic integrity, and an important advocate for the music of her native country. Her award winning 2018 album of 20th century works for cello by Bulgarian composers, Bulgarian Sketches, is an important contribution to the field. She was recently awarded a grant to record several piano trios by Bulgarian composers, including a new commission by composer Lora Al-Ahmad.
Marta has been a faculty at the Eastern Music Festival since 2004. She is also a regular performer with Chamber Project of St. Louis, presenting innovative concerts of contemporary programming. Past performances include a notable performance of the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos with vocalist Bobby McFerrin as well as performances with the Eppes String Quartet, Illinois Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Tallahassee Symphony, and the New Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria.
A noted cello pedagogue, Marta is the Professor of Cello at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she teaches cello, chamber music, string methods, and courses in general music. Marta completed her undergraduate studies at the Bulgarian State Academy of Music in Sofia before emigrating to the United States for graduate study at Florida State University.