Kolio Plachkov
horn

Kolio Plachkov, a horn player from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, has received countless awards and has performed to international acclaim. He has performed contemporary music with the Axiom Ensemble, recently playing in a concert devoted to the music of Joe Zawinul. He won the Cerritos Center Performing Art Scholarship, and the 7th Annual Rotary District 5330 Music Competition. He was the Principal French Horn player at Carnegie Hall in 2007 as a member of the New York String Seminar. As winner of the “Redlands Bowl’ competition in 2005, Plachkov gave a recital in the city of Redlands. He placed second in one of the most prestigious competitions in California, the Pasadena Showcase Instrumental Competition (no first prize was given that year). Also during 2006 he placed 3rd in the finals of the Spotlight Competition (Los Angeles). He was invited to play on “From the Top,’ in North Folk, Virginia, where he performed with the host of the program and one of the world’s most famous pianists, Mr. O’Railly.

Plachkov was invited to study at the Idyllwild Arts Academy as a full-scholarship student, where he won the concerto competition the following year, performing the 1st Strauss Horn Concerto under the baton of Ransom Wilson. He received many awards in Bulgaria before studying in the United States. In 2002 he won a competition which led to a performance with the Plovdiv Philharmonic. In 2001, he won first place in one of the biggest horn competitions in Kishinev, Moldova, in addition to receiving a Karl Dressel horn. At the age of 13, he won the 4th International Competition for French Music.

Plachkov is currently a student at the Juilliard School where he studies with Jennifer Montone. He has participated in many masterclasses and orchestral readings with major horn players and conductors from around the world, including Jerome Ashby, Peter Dam, Frank Loyed, Vince DeRosa, David Jollie, Phil Mayers, Jerome Ashby, Dale Clevenger, Julie Landsman, Ransom Wilson, and Michael Tilson Thomas.