Society of Peabody Alumni
Citation for the Johns Hopkins University Recent Graduate Award
Presented to
Svetoslav Stoyanov
February 23, 2011
Svetoslav Stoyanov, percussionist, timpanist, tapanist, marimbist, musician, teacher.
A student of Robert van Sice, you were a winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition in 2003, the year you completed your Bachelor of Music degree here at Peabody. The prize came with a management contract and a New York recital.
You made your New York debut at Avery Fisher Hall, in Lincoln Center, giving the world premiere of Philip Glass’ Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra with Jonathan Haas and the American Symphony Orchestra under Leon Botstein.
Since then you have become something of a regular at Carnegie Hall. You were part of the Zankel Band that played at the opening of Carnegie’s Zankel Hall. You performed Pierre Boulez’s Le Marteau sans maître at Carnegie with the composer conducting, and returned as part of Reich on Reich: Steve Reich @ 70. And you were co-soloist for performances of the Glass piece at Carnegie twice, with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops and, in 2008, with the New York Youth Symphony.
You have performed hundreds of recitals including festival appearances at Ravinia, and Yellow Barn; and solo performances at the Kennedy Center, Merkin Hall and Carnegie Hall. As if that was not enough, in 2009, at age 28, you became the youngest person ever to be appointed as Head of Percussion Studies and Professor of Percussion at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Earlier that same year, you released your acclaimed debut recording, Percussive Counterpoint, featuring your own transcription for marimba and vibes of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint, originally written for electric guitar.
The distinctive sound of the marimba comes from the vertical metal resonators beneath the keyboard. Svet, your musicianship and dedication to collaboration and teaching resonate in a similar way.
Your willingness to perform tonight, at the Peabody Dance Choreography Showcase on April 2 and 3, and on many other occasions, shows a true commitment to the Peabody and Johns Hopkins families.
The Peabody Chapter of the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association is honored to confer upon you the Outstanding Recent Graduate Award.