Born on April 3, 1969, George Tantchev
first began studying percussion at the age of eight with Prof. Dr. Dobri Paliev
and was his student until graduation from the State Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria.In 1998 George completed a Master of Music Performance at Ithaca College, NY, and earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Oklahoma in 2004. His dissertation ASYMMETRICAL RHYTHMS FOR MARIMBA
was published in November 2008 by VDM.George has written several articles for Percussive Notes magazine and his poster "Bulgarian Grooves" was selected for presentation at the Dallas 2000 Percussive Arts Society International Convention
He studied conducting with Dr. William Wakefield and composition with Prof. Bentsion Eliezer and Dr. Gregory Woodward. His compositions have been performed at PENDIM International Percussion Competition, several PASIC meetings, Days of Percussion and have also been frequently reviewed in Percussive Notes.
George was a member of the National Bulgarian Percussion Ensemble "Polyrhythmia", State Music Theatre "St. Makedonsky", "Teatro Lirico di Europa" and has particpated in numerous recordings and concert performances.
Currently George is on the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, plays timpani and percussion with Chamber Opera Chicago, Northbrook Symphony, New Millenium Orchestra and serves as Director of the NSO School of Music, where he teaches Drum Set and Percussion. George is a member of the Vic Firth educational team. He resides with his wife Dessislava - violist and their two sons Boyan and George in Glenview, IL.
