Ivaylo Koutchev grew up in Pleven, North Bulgaria, studied at the Plovdiv Academy for Music and Dance, Department of Folk Music and taught kaval (end-blown wooden flute) for ten years in Shiroka Luka - a specialized national Folk Music High School. He toured extensively in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. Mr. Koutchev teaches kaval and tapan (bass drum) at the Balkan Music and Dance Workshops on both coasts and throughout the U.S. Among his many awards is a Gold Medal from a World Youth Festival in Germany.

Mr. Koutchev is currently performs with different groups for Balkan music in U.S.

“Ivaylo Koutchev is an outstanding performer whose presentation is of the highest quality. The workshop in music, which he held with the members of the Princeton University Folk Culture Club was a special personal experience for everyone who took part in. He was able in a few short hours to teach to Americans of non-Bulgarian heritage traditional music and specific uneven Bulgarian rhythms. It was unforgettable evening for all of us.” (Anton Russev, President of the Center for Bulgarian Culture in America).

“Ivaylo Koutchev is a wonderful performer and teacher of Bulgarian music. He is one of the best players of kaval in Bulgaria and in the U.S. I have enjoyed studying with him on several occasions in the U.S. I was impressed with his excellent command of the kaval. I was happy to learn from him many different Bulgarian music styles, and to have them situated in the cultural context of the Balkan region.”  (Bob Snider, kaval player for 10 years, Member of the ensemble “Hayde”, Columbus, Ohio)