Nikolay
Lalov

With extensive activity as a conductor, violinist and teacher, Nikolay Lalov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. He began studying the violin at the age of six. He graduated from the National Academy of Bulgaria as a violinist and later completed a course in conducting. The desire to present unknown works and composers and to promote a cultural dialogue between countries has led him to bring new works to Portugal and to introduce music from Bulgaria and Portugal across the globe. He organized the first Cultural Week of Portugal in Sofia in 1994, promoting visits by artists from both countries and exchanges between schools of music in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Évora (Portugal). As a violinist, Lalov has recorded for the Bulgarian National Radio and the Portuguese National Radio. In 2012, the Orchestra of Cascais and Oeiras was created by Lalov and was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit by the Cascais Town Council.