Teodor Petkov – TOTO is a Bulgarian pianist, composer, arranger, and producer with more than 25 years of experience in performance, composition, and music production. Known for his versatility and expressive style, he blends jazz, classical, and contemporary influences into music that is both technically refined and emotionally powerful.
Teodor began playing piano by ear at the age of three and was performing publicly by the age of five. He studied at the National School of Arts in Ruse and the National Academy of Music in Sofia before earning a Master’s degree in Creative Music Production in the UK. His artistry combines virtuosic technique, lyrical improvisation, and a deep understanding of harmony, making him equally at home on stage, in the studio, or behind the mixing desk.
Over the years, Teodor has performed at major international festivals such as Bansko Jazz Festival, Nisville, Eurosonic, March Music Days, Bucharest Jazz Festival, Stara Zagora Jazz Festival and Varna Jazz Days, among others. He has collaborated with internationally recognised and Grammy awarded artists including Alex Sipiagin, Milcho Lebiev, Janice Harrington, Craig Bailey, Sebastian Burneci, and Carol Jarvis, and worked with orchestras such as the Ruse Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra, Sofia Soloists and Razgrad Philharmonic Orchestra.
His discography includes his own trio release Bake A Biscuit (2021) with bassist Vasil Hadzhigrudev and drummer Borislav Petrov, as well as contributions to Sebastian Burneci – Unspoken (2018), Liudmil Krumov – Cultural Collision, the BNR 90 Years Anniversary Album (2024), and the European Jazz Orchestra album (2012). He has also composed and produced music for Krista, Lina Nikol, Savina, Avigeya Voices, The New Generation, Mango Duende, Gathering Point, for film and television, including the documentary “Pritamnee li shte e na razsumvane” (2013).
Teodor’s trio pays homage to the great jazz ensembles of the 1950s while infusing their music with modern creativity, swing, and interplay. His work as an arranger and producer spans jazz, classical, pop, and experimental genres, with a focus on clarity, emotional depth, and storytelling through sound.
As an educator, Teodor has served as an assistant to the legendary Milcho Leviev and was a tutor for more than 10 years at the National Academy of Music and New Bulgarian University. Through teaching, he shares his knowledge of music theory, ear training, improvisation, and production with the next generation of musicians.
Whether you are looking for piano performance, original composition, arrangement, recording, or full-scale production, Teodor delivers with professionalism and artistry. His broad experience across genres, combined with a personalized and collaborative approach, ensures that every project reflects the client’s vision while maintaining the highest musical standards.
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Music arranger and music producer.
Music & Lyrics: Savina
Arrangement: Aleks Nushev, Teodor Petkov
Mixing: Teodor Petkov
Mastering: Aleks Nushev
Piano played and recorded by Teodor Petkov
Kaval by Zhivko Vasilev
Bass guitar by Aleks
Drums by Borislav Petrov
Recorded at ANP Music Production (except piano)
Director, Editing: Pavlin Ivanov - BASHMOTION
Producer: Savina, Aleks Nushev
Thumbnail photo by Renita Kostadinova
Stylist: Savina, Kristiana Djoneva
Make Up: Anna Rangelova
Music composer, mixing engineer, foley and sound FX designer
Arrangement of a folklore song for the national 90 year anniversary of the Bulgarian National Radio
Piano and arrangement - Teodor Petkov
Vocal - Georgina Dimitrova
- Established a Trio officially formed in 2020, led the trio in creating a unique sound that blends original compositions and
classic jazz standards, receiving consistent positive feedback and repeat bookings at renowned jazz clubs and festivals. - Worked closely with skilled musicians to develop dynamic arrangements, fostering a collaborative environment that
enhanced the trio’s musical versatility and overall sound. - Designed and implemented effective marketing strategies, including targeted social media campaigns and local outreach
efforts, which significantly increased the trio’s visibility and audience engagement. - Oversaw the entire production process of the trio’s first original album, released in 2021, which included composition, arrangements, performance, studio recording, mixing, and mastering. This effort resulted in critical acclaim and
strengthened the trio’s reputation in the local jazz scene.
- Composed and arranged 90% of the band’s music, enhancing the overall sound and creative direction.
- Served as a permanent member and performer, contributing to live performances and studio recordings.
- Developed and expanded the group’s repertoire by consistently producing innovative music and arrangements.
- Collaborated with a sextet to record an art film for National Television, showcasing original compositions to a wider
audience.
Following the path of exploring the possibilities for fusing two geographically distant musical traditions, Bulgarian born jazz guitarist and composer Ludmil Krumov takes the listeners on a musical journey in his consecutive attempt to unite Bulgarian Folk Music and Jazz.
Each of the eleven compositions in the album is written in a specific traditional Bulgarian folk dance groove and mode, spiced up with a pinch of Bartok and Stravinsky, interpreted in a more contemporary improvisational jazz manner by a team of excellent jazz and folk musicians including Ludmil Krumov (guitar), Peyo Peev (gadulka), Zhivko Vasilev (kaval), Teodor Petkov (piano), Vasil Hajigrudev (double bass) and Borislav Petrov (drums).
Using a wide palette of musical colors “Cultural Collision” conveys the notion of uniting people and cultures emphasizing the similarities between them.
- Collaborated with renowned national artists and performed in diverse musical settings, including jazz trios, salsa bands, symphonic orchestras, and pop/rock ensembles, showcasing versatility across contemporary and classical styles.
- Composed, arranged, and performed original music for various ensembles such as a Clarinet Sextet and a String Quartet, including a televised concert film on national television, elevating creative projects with innovative compositions.
- Produced music for over 20 years for personal and collaborative projects, working with Grammy award-winning artists and
national radio orchestras, contributing to high-quality recordings and performances. Provided private piano lessons to students of all levels, maintaining a consistent teaching practice alongside university-level
instruction, cultivating the next generation of musicians through personalized educations
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