Kalin Kirilov

As a child in Bulgaria, Kalin Kirilov played the accordion with his father, celebrating every holiday and special occasion with music. At Towson University, Kirilov continues to share his love of Balkan music in the classroom and through regular performances.

“Towson University’s music department has enormous potential with so many talented faculty members,” describes Kirilov. “Growing up in a family of teachers, it is so rewarding to communicate my knowledge and share my experiences with students. I would be hard-pressed to find a better place to teach.”

One of the most distinctive features of Balkan folk music is the complexity of its rhythms compared to Western music. “I find ways to explain the foundations of Balkan music to my students, providing scores and transcriptions for them,” explains Kirilov. “They leave my classroom with a knowledge of global music and theory.”

“ Growing up in a family of teachers, it is so rewarding to communicate my knowledge and share my experiences with students. I would be hard-pressed to find a better place to teach. ”

Each year, Kirilov joins fellow Balkan musicians for workshops and presents at conferences around the world. “Towson University has encouraged and supported me in all of my scholarly and professional endeavors,” says Kirilov, whose 2015 book Bulgarian Harmony combines music theory and ethnomusicology. “Towson University has been a wonderful environment to grow professionally.”

Still Kirilov does not view himself as a typical music professor. “I teach students and encourage them to find interconnections between different fields of expertise. The more diverse skill set, the greater the advantage for a musician.”