A young singer and string player walked away with some of the most coveted prizes at Perform in Perth this year.
Pavlina lvanova (16) came to Perth from her native Bulgaria around three years ago and currently attends Perth High School. As well as singing soprano, Pavlina plays classical guitar. At Perform in Perth last month, the talented youngster won the Scots singing class and the opera class for her age group. She won the guitar class for advanced players too. And on the final night of Perform in Perth 2021, Pavlina was awarded the Christina Donaghy Cup for Scots song, and the Joan and Stewart Tennant Quaich for the best under 18 vocal performance.
For her other musical talent, classical guitar, Pavlina was awarded the Larg Rosebowl. For this honour she was in competition with the other five winners of advanced and open classes in strings, woodwind and brass, with her guitar performance being judged the best.
The young Bulgarian has been making continuous inroads into the musical and further afield.
Together with her sister Tanya, Pavlina joined Perth-based Jambouree Choir and caught the attention of vocal teacher choir director, Edna Auld.
Edna said: “Pavlina is totally committed to both her vocal and guitar studies. It’s both a pleasure and privilege for me to watch her development from a promising 14-year-old and her ever blossoming talent.”
“She is also achieving excellent results at Perth High School, including Highers in English, Music, Spanish and Maths.”
In February 2020 she won the Rotary Club of Kinnoull vocal award which is open to studenst in Perth secondary schools, with fellow Jambouree singer and ‘cellist Michelle Campbell taking second prize.
With the Jambouree Singers, Pavlina performed at Pitlochry Festival Theatre for ‘Burns Nicht’ in 2020.
Prior to this, in 2019, Pavlina became a student at the junior department of the Royal Conservatoire or Scotland.
Reported in the Perthshire Advertiser – 6th April 2021