Teodora Pavlovich

Teodora Pavlovich is Professor of Choral Conducting at Bulgaria's National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov," specializing in the psychological foundations of conducting art. With over 300 international concerts across 24 European countries and broadcasts on BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Vatican Radio, she bridges academic research with elite choral performance.

Education:

• Doctor in Music and Dance Art, National Academy of Music
• Master in Choral Conducting and Sound Engineering, National Academy of Music

Research Focus: Her pioneering work examines cognitive processes in conducting through dual lenses of music psychology and ethnomusicology. She investigates mental frameworks governing musical memory, creative thought, and rhythmic perception, with recent studies analyzing irregular meters in Balkan folk traditions and the neurocognitive basis of conducting expertise.

Scholarly Impact: Publications in International Choral Bulletin and academy journals reveal a cohesive trajectory exploring conducting as embodied cognition. Her 2019-2020 works establish conducting as a cognitive science discipline, moving beyond technical instruction to analyze the conductor's mental ecosystem during performance.

Honors:

• Honorary Badge of Moscow State Conservatory (2018)
• IFCM Outstanding Contribution Award (2017)
• Bulgarian Ministry of Culture "Golden Age–Star" (2016)
• Sofia Municipality "Heart of Sofia" (2016)
• Classic FM Radio "Golden Feather" (2015)

Global Mentorship: Conducted 50+ masterclasses across Asia and Europe for students from 15 countries, while directing Erasmus+ projects like "East-West Chord" to foster cross-cultural choral exchange. Secured funding through Bulgaria's Ministry of Culture and Sofia Municipality for international festivals.

Artistic Leadership: As conductor of Sofia Chamber Choir "Vasil Arnaudov" (7 CDs, 300+ concerts) and Artistic Director of "Petko Staynov" International Choral Festival, she shapes choral landscapes through performance, competition juries (40+ events across 22 countries), and editorial work for International Choral Bulletin.