One of the most prominent musicians in the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra is the Bulgarian violist Boris Tonkov. A proven talent, he graduated from the National Music Academy "Lyubomir Pipkov" in Sofia as a student of the legendary Prof. Ognyan Stanchev and continued his studies in the USA – first as a student of the famous pedagogue and violinist Kevork Mardirossian, then with Jerzy Kosmala at Louisiana State University and with Jesse Levine at the prestigious Yale University, where he was awarded an assistant teaching scholarship. 

Boris Tonkov participates in many international competitions, he teaches, but the most impressive is his vast experience in symphony orchestras in the USA, Brazil, England, Spain and France.  He was a soloist-leader in several prestigious symphony ensembles, including the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic. In 2000 he became a member of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, and later he was selected as a member of the new Opera Symphony Orchestra in Valencia. He has played under the baton of many of the most prominent contemporary conductors: Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Valery Gergiev, Zubin Mehta, Michael Stern. 

"They have a very long history, as does the city, so it's a joy for me to be part of this team for nearly 15 years now," says Tonkov.

The Bulgarians in the orchestra, besides Boris, are two more violinists and one cellist – the renowned Alexander Somov. Today Tonkov participates in various chamber ensembles in projects offered to the Philharmonic every spring. Boris has had three such projects over the years – “personally mine,” he says, in which he has presented music by Bulgarian composers such as Petar Hristoskov and Tsenko Minkin. According to him, the French audience is very receptive to Bulgarian music, even the newest.

Our distinguished violist has played in many renowned ensembles. He started with the Mahler Youth Orchestra under the direction of the great Claudio Abbado. Many talented Bulgarians have started their path in the world's most prestigious orchestras from this youth ensemble. Then in Boris Tonkov's career came the London Philharmonic, several orchestras in the USA and the orchestra in Valencia, for which he was chosen by Lorin Maazel himself - the creator of the ensemble.

One of Boris' unforgettable encounters occurred while he was a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra: "I had the opportunity to play with Kurt Masur at four concerts in Germany - one of his last tours. He was already quite old. Before that, I had also worked with him in São Paulo, maybe in 2001. We played Shostakovich - Fifteenth Symphony! Only one symphony in four concerts in the largest German halls...".

After more than ten years spent in the USA, the Bulgarian musician felt a great desire to return to Europe, and the best job offer at that time was in Spain. In the first three years, every summer he had engagements overseas: "Literally from 2006 to 2009. I didn't have summer vacations, I would go back to the States to play chamber music concerts, various other summer festival engagements with orchestras."

"First, I also believe that the sound that comes out of a metal string scraping against horsehair smeared with resin is a very capricious thing. It is very difficult to get this vocal, singing sound with these instruments. It takes a long time for a person to develop and gain this affinity for sound, and here I will start with my first real viola teacher – Prof. Ognyan Stanchev, he was very committed to this! For him, the main, beautiful, deep viola sound was a motto. He did not like whistling, hissing, he even always told me: "you should not play like a violinist". Sound extraction in string instruments is a very capricious thing, very important. Each has their own characteristic sound."