Award-winning musician Boyan Bonev is a native of Bulgaria. He holds Master and Doctor of Music degrees from Florida State University. He has performed in a number of prestigious music festivals and conferences in North America and Europe such as SeasideStrings in Seaside, FL, FestivalSouth in Hattiesburg, MS, College Music Society Southern Regional Conference and Florida Music Educators' Association Conference in Tampa, FL, Varga Celebration in Greensboro, NC, Seven Days of Opening Nights and Festival of New Music in Tallahassee, FL, Musica Nova and New Bulgarian Music in Sofia, Bulgaria, Varna Summer in Varna, Bulgaria, Apolonia in Sozopol, Bulgaria and March Music Days in Rousse, Bulgaria. Bonev was featured as a soloist by Camerata South, Seaside Chamber Players, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, University of West Florida Chamber Orchestra, Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra and Stara Zagora Symphony Orchestra, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall.

         Dr. Bonev is a prize winner from the Bulgarian National Competition for Singers and Instrumentalists and the International Competition "Music and Earth". He is also a recipient of the Radio Stara Zagora National Award for Outstanding Concert and Artistic Achievement and the Florida State University Graduate Teaching Assistantship. Currently, Dr. Bonev serves as the Orchestra Director at Thomas County Schools, and is the Music Director and Conductor of South Georgia Ballet. Boyan Bonev and his colleagues are very excited to bring live music to the Nutcracker production of the Panama City Ballet!