Biography

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Mr. Vladimir Basanov began his formal musical training at age 7, studying piano and contrabass. At the age of 16, the Bulgarian government gave him a scholarship to the Academic School of Music and Choreography affiliated to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. He studied Ballet, Choreography and Piano and received the First Prize for piano in 1984 and 1985. Back to Bulgaria, Vladimir studied Kaval (the Bulgarian flute) with the world-renown musician Theodosii Spasov and with Nikola Ganshev and played this flute at the Philharmonic Orchestra of Sofia under the direction of conductor Yosif Gerdjikov. Vladimir was the Principal Dancer in the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Sofia for 11 years. The Bulgarian Ministry of Culture honored him with Outstanding Artistic Achievement in 1991. During his ballet career, Vladimir continued to play music. Music is his passion and he enjoyed teaching piano and guitar to a few students. Vladimir and his wife Fabienne (who paints) moved to Canada in 2001 and he danced with the Alberta Ballet until 2003.

 

For the last 22 years, Vladimir teaches music full time: piano, classical guitar, violin, flute and theory for all levels. Since 2011, Vladimir composed more than 100 pieces of contemporary classical music, including fugues and a few concertos for piano and orchestra, and for violin and orchestra. He played his own compositions and transcriptions on different occasions.

 

Vladimir teaches a wide range of classical music from Baroque to modern and also popular music and composition. He is keen to share his love, experience, skills and knowledge with his students and during the years, trained some to participate and win in various competitions.