BBC Concert Orchestra names Dobrinka Tabakova as composer in residence

Dobrinka Tabakova
photo ECM Records
/ Sussie Ahlburg

The composer Dobrinka Tabakova is the new composer in residence at the BBC Concert Orchestra. Dobrinka will work with orchestra initially for a period of three years, and the orchestra will both explore her existing compositions as well as commissioning three new works from her. Dobrinka will also be involved in the artistic planning of the orchestra's work, including concerts, recordings and learning projects. Her first orchestral commission is for the orchestra's 2018/19 season at the South Bank Centre where it is an associate artist.

Dobrina Tabakova was born in Bulgaria and came to London with her family in her early teens. Recent work has included Immortal Shakespeare, written for the Shakespeare 400 celebrations for Orchestra of the Swan (where she was Resident Composer from 2014 to 2016) and Tamsin Waley Cohen. I interviewed Dobrinka in 2015 (see my interview) when she was featured composer on BBC Radio 3 and at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival.

Dobrinka is also composer in residence at Truro Cathedral and as part of BBC Radio 3's programming for International Women's Day, Choral Evensong will come from Truro Cathedral where the newly formed girl choristers choir will perform a new piece by Dobrinka.