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Evgeni Raychev, cello

Born in Russe, Bulgaria, Dr. Evgeni Raychev began his studies on the violoncello at the Vesselin Stoyanov School of Music in Russe with Elka Effremova as his teacher. He further continued his music education with professor Zdravko Yordanov at the Bulgarian Music Academy in Sofia, where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees. Upon arriving in the USA in 1997 he attended the Florida State University, where he completed his second Master's and Doctoral degrees with professor Lubomir Georgiev. Winner of several competitions, Evgeni Raychev has performed as a soloist with orchestras in the USA, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Colombia. His chamber and solo music experience includes performances in the USA, Bulgaria, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Costa Rica and Italy.

Dr. Raychev has played for the Bulgarian National Symphony Orchestra for five years during his undergraduate pursuit and has served as a principal cellist of FSU Symphony, Chamber and Opera Orchestras, as well as Tallahassee SO, Southeast SO, Orchestra of the Pines, Texarkana SO, Longview SO, and East Texas SO.

For seven years Evgeni Raychev played in the Douzet alongside his teacher Prof. Yordanov, the founder of this ensemble of twelve cellos, which commissioned and premiered several compositions by leading Bulgarian composers.

He was appointed as the adjunct cello professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, TX in the Fall of 2003, where he currently teaches. Raychev is constantly and continuously working on innovative collaborative music projects promoting classical music to pre college and college students. He is the founder of Piney Woods Camerata (student-faculty collaborative conductorless ensemble), Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, and a founding member of the Alazan Piano Trio—an ensemble dedicated to performing compositions by American composers.

In addition to his performance activities, Raychev is a dedicated pedagogue and an ardent advocate of cello ensemble playing who loves workings with musicians of different ages. His newest endeavor is the foundation of the Cello Club in the fall of 2014, where cello enthusiasts of all ages are prepared online to gather together for a concert at SFA.

Raychev has recorded for Gega New Ltd. and Centaur Records. He currently plays together with his wife, Jennifer Dalmas as the Hachidori Duo. In October of 2015 the Hachidori Duo was invited to perform Ravel's sonata for violin and cello in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.