We were lucky to catch up with Boryana Popova recently and have shared our conversation below.
Boryana , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I was drawn to the violin since young age – its tone, brilliance, expressive voice, and various colours were fascinating to me. I was constantly exposed to art and music. It was a rough path at first. Looking back now, even though there were plenty of moments of desperation and uncertainty, my inner voice was always there telling me to keep going and not to give up. I was recently asked by a mother of a young child, whether it is hard or easy to learn how to play the violin. My honest answer was that it is very hard, but also incredibly rewarding, because nothing else can give you this level of happiness but giving and receiving love through your craft.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am currently a freelance violinist, based in Los Angeles. I was born in Bulgaria and started playing the violin when I was 6 years old. After finishing my Master of Music Degree at the National Bulgarian Conservatory in Sofia, I was accepted to UCLA , where I received Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in 2012. As a performer, I am privileged to be part of some of the top notch groups in LA, as well as some regional orchestras, including Pacific Opera Project, Riverside Philharmonic, LA Jewish Symphony, American Contemporary Ballet, Mozart Classical Orchestra, the Helix Collective and many more. Some of my proudest moments include sharing the stage with John Williams, Kenny Burrell, Quincy Jones, Arturo Sandoval, Dee Dee Bridgewater, One Republic, Marco Antonio Solis, Gloria Trevi, John Cale, and Natalie Cole.
As a recording artist, I have recorded for numerous films, television, commercials, video games and albums.
I also work as a violin teacher at the French Conservatory in Beverly Hills, and Hyperium Conservatory in Palos Verdes, as well as a private teacher. I teach all kinds of ages and levels. My goal as a teacher is to convey the love and appreciation towards the art of violin playing onto the next generation of young musicians.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Number one most important quality to me is self-discipline. This one is actually hard for a lot of people. A nice parallel is the saying that being a musician is like being an athlete – they both require an insane amount of training and sacrifice.
Second very important quality is ambition. Ambition to me is the desire to become better at your craft. I learned over time that it’s best if you only compete with yourself.
And last but not least – networking. This skill is overlooked by a lot of us, but can literally bring you a job opportunity that you might not get even after taking 147 auditions and going to job interviews. Being able to socialise with people and make them interested in your work without being pushy or intrusive is a real gift.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Many musicians have a reoccurring dream about going on stage in front of a big audience without knowing what they are about to perform. I have those dreams too, and believe me, they aren’t fun. There are few reasons why artists can feel overwhelmed but the two main reasons are: not having enough work or having too much work. When I have too much on my plate, there are two strategies that really help me- prioritising and time management. As a freelance musician, I try to take as many opportunities as possible. Sometimes those opportunities are demanding, and require lots of preparation (meaning long hours of practicing). When that happens, I try to be more organised than usual with my schedule and plan my days accordingly.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @dr.boogie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bpopova
- Youtube: @bpopish
Image Credits
Jelena Turinski
