Vlaev is composer, sonologist, researcher, performer, music producer, sound designer and educator based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The interest in a variety of musical languages, forms and abilities for expression provokes him to use different medias to implement his ideas. This is evident in his work which vary from solo instrumental compositions, through music for various ensembles to orchestral compositions with use of electronics or live electronics, music for film as well as electroacoustic music for fixed media and live electronics performances.
His work has been presented at variety of festivals and conferences such as: New interfaces for musical expression (nime) (2024)(utrecht, NL); Sofia Underground – International Performance art Festival (2024)(Sofia, BG); Seoul International Computer Music Festival (2023)(Seoul, KR); Computer Space (2023)(Sofia, BG); NoiseFloor Festival (2023)(UK); New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival (2020)(New York, US); Sound of the Underground (SOTU) Festival (2020, 2022, 2023)(Amsterdam, NL); Sounds of Silence Festival (2021)(The Hague, NL), March Music Days Festival (2019)(Ruse, BG); ReWire Festival (2019)(The Hague, NL); klingt gut! Symposium on Sound (2018)(Hamburg, DE); Grondwater Festival (2018)(The Hague, NL); WFS Festival (2018)(The Hague, NL); Chamber Music Days Festival (2015) (Gabrovo, BG); Sound & Relation Festival (2009), Forum–Festival Computer Music Space (2014, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)(Sofia, BG). Moreover, at concert series and venues such as: SONIX – acousmatic music concert series (Brno, CZ), Azimuth – spatial electroacoustic music, Kernel Panic and Myriads concert series (The Hague, NL); WORM (Rotterdam, NL), STEIM (Amsterdam, NL) and others. Number of his compositions have been recorded by the Bulgarian National Radio. His piece for ensemble Towards Singularity has been selected to present Bulgaria at the International Rostrum of Composers in 2018.
vlaev has been awarded crystal lyre in 2024 for his live electronics performance pervade the space at Sofia underground international performance art festival (sofia). pervade the space was also awarded in 2023 at computer space digital arts festival (sofia). the original multichannel spatial version of pervade the space was awarded at klingt gut! symposium of sound (hamburg) in 2018.
Vlaev regularly lectures on different aspects of electronic and experimental music. he has conducted multiple real-time sound processing and sound design workshops with Max/MSP and Max4Live at New Bulgarian University (Sofia), Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (Plovdiv), Resonator Co-innovation Hub (Sofia, BG), national music academy (sofia). vlaev has also led an ensemble electroacoustic improvisation seminar at NMA.
Vlaev has gained his Composition Masters in Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv (BG) and Akademia Muzyczna im. Karola Lipińskiego in Wrocław (PL). His interest in electroacoustic music led him later to the Institute of Sonology, Royal Conservatory, The Hague (NL). There Vlaev accomplished a master project focused on the design of a digital system for processing acoustic sound in real-time and developed a hybrid acoustic-digital instrument with which he performs regularly. Currently Vlaev is focused on obtaining his PhD at the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Science.
LIST OF WORKS
For instruments and electronics:
warning! ... a chronicle of now ..., for amplified flute, accordion, cello and live electronics, 2025;
Mixed studies #03: conundrum, for any amplified flute and live electronics, 2024;
Mixed studies #02: E profundo, for amplified clarinet and live electronics, 2020;
Mixed studies #01: Diffused Gestures, for amplified accordion and live electronics, 2018;
Mixed studies #00: Strange Loops, for prepared piano and live electronics, 2017;
Concerto for electronically prepared keyboard, 13 strings, percussion and computer, 2008 - 2009;
Electroacoustic music for fixed media:
Pervade the space, stereo, fixed media, 2023;
Hallowed Be Thy Name, 5.1 channels, fixed media, 2016;
Cell/o/Phonie, 8 channels, fixed media, 2015;
Bells reflections, 2 channels, fixed media, 2013;
Water, 4 channels, fixed media, 2008;
Music for ensembles:
Anamorphosis #2, for an ensemble of improvisers and a real-time computer-generated graphic score, 2023;
Anamorphosis #1, for an ensemble of improvisers and graphic score, 2023;
Towards Singularity, for an ensemble of 8 instruments, 2018;
Zusammen/Getrennt/Zusammen, for wind quintet, 2015;
Bells, for guitar quartet, 2013 (revised 2014);
Yin & Yang, for clarinet, marimba and piano, 2007;
Prelude & Scherzo, for viola and piano, 2006 - 2007;
Variations, for brass quintet, 2006;
Three songs to lyrics by Dimcho Debelianov, for female voice and piano, 2005;
Hommage a Piazzolla, for violin, accordion, guitar, piano and double bass, 2004;
Sonata, for flute & guitar, 2003 - 2004 Music for guitar ensemble, 2003;
For clarinet:
Suite, 2005 - 2006;
For guitar:
Fusion, 2014;
Small suite in ancient style, 2005 - 2006;
Nostalgy, 2004;
Asimetrico, 2002;
For piano:
Toccata, 2008;
Sonatina, 2007;