Ivelina

About me

Hi, my name is Ivelina Kolaksazova. I was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on 3rd July 1986. I have always wanted to be a singer and thanks to my inherited tenacity and my stubbornness this was what actually happened.

When I was a child, I didn’t allow my parents to take me to the kindergarten. I used to stand for hours in front of the mirror, dressed in all kinds of costumes and “armed” with an imaginary microphone singing to my dolls and the neighbours.

And so, when I was four years old I blackmailed my mother to take me to the casting, organized by children’s vocal group called “Mecho Puh” (“Pooh Bear”). I had obviously impressed them with my self-confidence and artistic gifts because I was approved and became part of their family. I have plenty of memories from that period because these were my first steps on the stage, my first TV appearances, video clips and interviews. After 5 years I sadly passed the permissible age and so I had to leave.

I just couldn’t imagine of putting an end to what I was doing. There was only one possible solution - a new casting. I ensured my artistic engagements for 7 years ahead by singing in childrens’ choir “Talasumche”. With “Talasumche” besides concerts we were doing musicals and touring around the country and abroad (Turkey, Poland, Hungary and Italy). We recorded 5 albums with children music, but what really mattered, besides the experience that I gained, was that I met the people with whom I continued my performing career after “Talasumche”. I’m talking about four girls together with whom we created the vocal group “Instinkt”. We were only fourteen years old but already eager to create our own repertoire. We were also performing many cover versions of our favorite musicians. We were doing a lot of concerts in Bulgaria and abroad, participating in many festivals- both domestic and international, we shot one musical film for the National Television and our own five video clips. Our music was developing trough out the years together with us. We have interpreted pop, rock, classic and Slav church music. We are still performing together because we feel a deep need to do it within us.

My first solo act was when I was thirteen year old when I participated in the “Verdi Note” festival in Battipaglia, Italy and was awarded silver note.

The next award- giving year for me was the year 2002. I participated in May in the “Sarandev” festival held in Dobrich, Bulgaria. In the beginning of June same year I was among the laureate of the “Million Wonders” festival in Sofia, Bulgaria. In the end of the month I preformed in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria in the festival “Trakiiska Lira”, where I won third prize and promotion in the chart for young talents of the Bulgarian National Television- “Hit Minus1”. I participated in this chart in December with Alexia’s “Dimmi Come” and won first place. I completed the year with a participation in the international festival “Melfest” in Prilep, Macedonia.

During the spring of 2003 I won first price of the festival for Bulgarian music “Sezoni” in Burgas, Bulgaria where I participated with my first author’s song “Igra” ( “The Game”) which appeared in the beginning of the same year based on music by Veselin Veselinov – Eko and my lyrics.

In the autumn of 2003 I was the winner of the joint Italian- Bulgarian festival “Insieme per L’Europa” which was held in Viterbo, Italy and Sofia, Bulgaria.

In the September of 2003 I won the prize for best stage performance of the international festival “Srebyrna Jantra”, Veliko Tyrnovo, Bulgaria. In the beginning of the year 2004 I won the prize of the media of the “Sezoni” festival. In the spring of the same year I was invited as a guest of honor of the festival “Mini Festival” in Viterbo, Italy. In the autumn of the year 2004 I won a prize for best performance in Bulgarian language of the festival “Srebyrna Jantra”.

In 2005 together with the group “Safo`” I wrote my second song “Otnovo S men” (“Di nuovo con me” / “Again with me”).

The same year I graduated the Italian High School in Sofia with major – “Art” and subsequently I entered “The National Musician Academy” in Sofia with major Pop and Jazz singing, in the class of Mrs. Stefka Onikina (a famous Bulgarian jazz singer).

In the November 2005 I won the first prize of the festival “Srebyrna Jantra” and I was invited to participate in the international festival “Dve Syrtza Bliznatzi” in Moldova where I was awarded by the Moldovan Ministry of Culture.

In 2006 I auditioned for the concert of the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio devoted to the young talents. There I preformed a new version of my song “Otnovo S Men” arranged by the Big Band.

In the summer of 2006 I made one of my dreams come true. I participated in a casting organized by Alexia for young musicians who would participate in her summer tour as a warming up performers. I was approved and invited to open her concert in Formello (RM), Italy. I still can’t believe that I actually had the possibility to share the stage with the singer who has always been one of my biggest idols.

In October 2006 I participated in the international festival “Svetinen Paun” in Varna, Bulgaria, where I was awarded the second prize.

In December of the same year I was invited by representatives of “Disney” in Bulgaria to record the Bulgarian version of the song from the film “Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses” which was also used for the commercial of that film in Bulgaria.

In 2007 I recorded my first song with my lyrics and music – “Dance With Me” which I realized with cooperation with “Popcorn” band. The song was approved to participate in the audition for the Bulgarian Song in Eurovision 2008.
I have been also a background vocalist for famous Bulgarian performers throughout the years.

In 2008 I was introduced with Italian producer Antonio Notaro. He included me in one of his musical projects - “Renilin Offside”. Thanks to this project the song “Otnovo s men” was included on a DVD and spread to different parts of the world.

My next song “Ready For Love” was released in the same year. The song has been composed by Ivan Laskov and Liubomir Boyanov, who has written also the English lyrics. The lyrics of the Bulgarian version “Nyama Pravila” has been written by Vladimir Mihailov. The final arrangement of the song was produced and realised thanks to Antonio Notaro and his independent record label – Renilin. He invited group of Italian musicians to his private studio in Cortale (Italy). The song was mixed and mastered in Stephan Zeh’s private studio in Germany. The outcome is obvious :) – very international result :). “Ready For Love” reached the finals of “The Bulgarian song for Eurovision 2009”. In 2009 was released also the official video of “Ready For Love” made possible by Milko Lazarov (director and produce) and his staff Creative Films.

In the beginning of 2009 I took part to the casting of the State Musical Theater “Stephan Makedonski” in Sofia and was chosen to become actress – probationer in the category of musicals.

2009 I ended my studies in State Academy of Music "Pantcho Vladigerov" and graduated in pop and jazz singing.