Owner, Director & Guitar Teacher
Childhood
Zhivko Nikolov is from Burgas, Bulgaria. Since his early childhood he has been exposed to rich music environment and influences. Mr. Nikolov started playing classical guitar when he was 11. His interest in the instrument guided the choice to continue his musical education at the “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” National School of Music and Fine Arts in Burgas, Bulgaria. During his youth studies he often performed as a soloist and with ensemble on various occasions such as: guitar seminars, festivals, and concerts.
Higher Education
Zhivko Nikolov moved permanently to the United States in 2007, and shortly after auditioned he was awarded a talent scholarship to continue his education in the Music Conservatory of Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Since then, he had studied under the supervision of the well-known performer and Professor Denis Azabagic.
Zhivko also has had the exceptional chance to meet and perform for several world-known artists such as: Marcin Dylla, Paul Galbraith, Elena Papandreo, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Nicholas Golouses, Mathew Cochran, Eduardo Catemario, Zoran Dukic, Aniello Desiderio, and Berta Rojas. He has appeared on Make Music Chicago’s events as a soloist and a chamber musician, and his performances have been broadcasted on WFMT, Chicago. In June 2019 he appeared as a soloist, judge, and ensemble coordinator at the 1st Chicago Guitar Festival.
Competitions
Mr. Nikolov participated and won prizes in the following competitions: “Singing Strings” (Gotse Delchev, 2003), The Balkan Classical Guitar Contest (Kyustendil, 2003), “Varban Varbanov Competition” (Burgas, 2004), 2nd prize in Louisville International Solo Competition (Kentucky, 2011) and a finalist in Wilson Guitar Competition (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2014). He was also among the semifinalists in Rosario Guitar Competition (South Carolina), and Indiana International Guitar Competition (Bloomington, Indiana).
6VibeZ Music Studio
Zhivko Nikolov established his own music studio in 2017 under the name 6VibeZ Music Inc. His students perform on various occasions, participate in concerts, and have won more than 13 prizes in regional and international competitions such as SAM, Indiana University at Bloomington International Guitar Competition, Marku Guitar Competition (Albania), Chicago Guitar Festival and Competition, Latino Arts Guitar Festival and Competition (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), and the International Festival of Arts “The Bulgarian Soul of the Holy Land” in Bat Yam, Israel.
Experience
Teaching since 2006, Mr. Nikolov served as a guitar faculty at the American Music Institute, St. Nicholas School of Arts, and Little Bulgarian School. He is currently teaching in Gasse School of Music, and he is also Master Guitar Instructor for the program Lead Guitar (University of Arizona, Tucson) where he helps more than 100 students per week in a group setting. At present, Mr. Nikolov teaches and performs in the Chicago area both as a soloist and in a duet with the flute-guitar Duo “Eutopia”.
