My name is Rostislava Pankova – Karadjov, but all my friends know me as Ronnie. I am born in the town of Lovetch, Bulgaria. Currently I live in Auckland, New Zealand. My life so far has been a journey of learning and understanding of music, cultures, people and myself.

I started playing piano at the age of 7, and tried to make a sound out of every instrument that came my way – zither, recorder, mouth harmonica, my dad’s old violin, guitar and piano-accordion, etc. At the age of 14 I was accepted in the Secondary School of Music in Sofia as a percussion student of Prof. D. Paliev, and since then I have known that I will became a musician.

After graduating the school, I continued my study at the Bulgarian Music Academy, majoring in Choir conducting and Musicology. I was seriously interested in all subjects, though, and was blessed with the chance to learn from teachers like Professor P Stoyanov (Musical Forms), Prof. K. Maximov (Conducting) Prof. B. Ellieser (Functional Harmony), Prof D. Christov (Polyphony), etc.

I joined the prestigious Sofia Lady’s Chamber Choir directed by the late Porf. Vassil Arnaoudov and was hooked for life with love for choir singing. I learned a lot during that time – as a conductor, musicologist, teacher and composer I understood what makes music interesting, what brings it to life. It was an honor to be appointed to the position of Choirmaster of the choir.

After I graduated from the Music Academy I taught Functional Harmony in the Secondary School of Music in Sofia, where I started understanding the secrets of the successful teaching.

In 1992 I left Bulgaria and arrived in Swaziland, Southern Africa, where I spent the next 11 years. It was like my life started from the beginning. I learned about life in a different dimension and society, the true meaning of poverty and goodwill, how Art is born out of necessity for beauty in one’s life.

I consulted and conducted various Swazi choirs, was involved as a music director in amateur musical productions like “West side story” and “Rocky Horror Show” and many children’s musicals.

I taught piano and developed a method of teaching, which engaged the child’s understanding of music through visual perception.

I worked as a music teacher in a primary school and as HOD at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College. My training as an educator of students from more than 50 nationalities was invaluable, as I had to be flexible and tolerant enough to accommodate the different learning needs of my students.

My son was born in 1996 and I learned the new meanings of the words love, responsibilities and future.

I arrived in New Zealand in 2003. Again, my life started from the beginning. Again I am learning about music, culture, people and myself…

I hope you will enjoy visiting the snapshots of my journey.

Welcome to my page!