Gergana Velinova

In-Person Lessons

“A honey-voiced vocalist,” as the Toronto Sun once described Gergana Velinova, has inspired international audiences with her diverse artistic talents. A native of Bulgaria, she has lived and performed throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada.

With 25 years of experience as an educator, vocal coach, and performing and recording artist, Gergana is passionate about music education and has worked with students across a wide range of ages and abilities—from a Teaching Artist for New York City’s Save The Music Elementary School Program to Head Vocal Instructor in BA degree programs such as Camosun College and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Gergana holds a Master’s Degree in Jazz and Classical-Contemporary Voice Performance from the Longy School of Music in Boston, undergraduate studies in Voice Performance from the Musicians Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, and a Music Diploma in Classical Guitar from the National Music School in Sofia.

With a repertoire ranging from her own compositions to the works of Ellington, Jobim, and Weill, Gergana is equally at home in the worlds of Jazz, Bossa Nova, Art Song, and Musical Theatre. She has recorded and shared the stage with Juno and Grammy award-winning artists such as Neal Swanson, Keith Ganz, Phil Dwyer, Brad Turner, Don Thompson, and Willard Dyson, among others.

Gergana has released seven solo albums featuring her own compositions and original arrangements of jazz classics. Her albums The Thief and December Wishing received critical acclaim, reaching the Top 10 of the U.S. CMJ Top 40, Roots Music, and both U.S. and Canadian Earshot Jazz Charts.

In addition to her performance career, Gergana is well known for her work as a choral conductor and music entrepreneur. She is the current Music Director of the West Vancouver Heritage Choir and the B Sharp Vocal Ensemble, as well as Artistic Director of the Lions Den House Concert Series.