Do not forget yourself, be more modest, there are people who live in deprivation

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

I am Stanimira Angelova and I have been playing the cello since I was eight years old. Thanks to my luck in meeting dedicated and inspiring teachers, the cello has become for me freedom, love, perseverance, and strength that has guided me forward in the most difficult moments.

I work as an assistant concertmaster of the cello group in the orchestra of the National Music Theatre "Stefan Macedonski" and I am part of HYPNOTIC – the trio that combines classical and pop music in a contemporary crossover style without analogy in Bulgaria. It is a great pleasure for me to be part of the group. With the girls, we perform on many different stages and beautiful places. We share unforgettable moments and perform the amazing arrangements created by our wonderful and talented violinist Maria.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

As a child, I dreamed of traveling, exploring different cultures, meeting good musicians, and sharing a stage. Besides classical music, I listened to a lot of film and rock music. They gave me a sense of freedom and a different way to express myself.

I have never viewed music as a competition, being first at any cost or having a solo career was not a goal for me. I have always felt that my place is in the chamber ensemble, the group, or the orchestra. There, music is experienced together and that is priceless.

I am grateful that this path has given me moments I never even imagined. Playing with different orchestras on the same stage with world-famous musicians, being part of Andrea Bocelli's tour, participating in an event where Lady Gaga herself sings, playing in front of Pope Francis, and together with the HYPNOTIC trio opening the concert of the BOND quartet are memories I will always carry with me.

At what age did you earn your first money? Tell us an interesting story?

I earned my first money in life when I was sixteen years old and it was with something quite distant from my future professional development. Together with my beloved grandmother Stoyka and some local people, we worked in the vineyard near my hometown in Burgas. And when I was seventeen, I received a call from the Razgrad Philharmonic and with great excitement, I went to play for the first time with a professional orchestra.

I will never forget the cellist who sat next to me. At every rehearsal, during breaks, she hung her cello on a clothes hanger. It had a carved hole with a string sticking out of it. This is something that few musicians can imagine doing to their musical instrument! :D

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests? What is your recipe for curiosity, sources of information, and inspiration at this stage of our human development?

The environment in which we grow shapes us. Parents, friends, and teachers are our first examples. Support and encouragement give us the strength to find our path, while fear and limitations hold us back. The most important thing is to seek your own, to discover what inspires you and to have the courage to be yourself. It is good to strive to grow and develop. This way we become stronger and more authentic.

Has there been any significant change in your perceptions in more mature age regarding what motivates you to do or not do something?

My perceptions and thinking have changed a lot over the years. I strive to develop, to move forward, to have direction, and to learn from my mistakes. I am increasingly beginning to trust my inner voice and the feeling of what is right for me and what deserves my time and energy.

I am motivated by inspiring and goal-oriented people. I find it interesting to meet them because I can learn something new. They are far from the mundane and are focused on an interesting craft, art, or science.

And the biggest change in my life that brings me immense happiness, a sense of wholeness, and endless love is my family and our baby Iva.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was this decision correct, looking back today?

The decision was mine. I first applied to the music academy in Sofia. Then I applied for a master's degree in four places in the USA. I was accepted in all four states, but I could not pass the English exam, which was just as important for a full scholarship. Fate knows its job, and I definitely do not regret continuing in Sofia, where the right things happened for me.

Share more about your interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies?

I am eager to participate with my cello in films, commercials, and recordings in various styles of music. I find great energy in hiking in the mountains and improvising in cooking. I also have a more unconventional hobby of making clay caricatures or modeling.

Would you change your profession today and which areas of activity capture your interest?

I would not change my profession. I realized this at the moment when I had a health problem and my hands were not as they used to be. Then I understood that I could not imagine life without playing and I did everything possible to return to music.

They say that personal branding is everything that people say about you when you are not in the same room with them. What would you like to hear today?

That I approach my work with professionalism, responsibility, and attention to detail, but also with humanity and empathy. I would like to leave a positive impact on people.

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility, as well as our soft skills, are key conditions for success in recent years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

I have learned not to take myself too seriously and to do what depends on me, while leaving the rest to sort itself out. For the things I cannot change, there is no point in getting angry or wasting energy.

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily – colleagues, friends, close ones?

Everyone sees the world in their own way, shaped by personal experience, beliefs, and emotions. The same message can be understood in thousands of different ways. That is why people often miss each other; everyone needs to be heard, supported, and appreciated. It is important that communication includes empathy, attention, and a desire not only to be understood but also to understand others.

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

For me, money has always been just a means; they have not changed the way I view life. I have had less, I have had more, but my attitude has remained the same. My advice to people is not to forget themselves and to remember that there are those who live in deprivation. It is not right for some to squander while others beg for the most basic things, like water and food. It is important for those who have in excess to help those who have nothing.

What is the most valuable career advice you would give to people?

To try without fear of mistakes to understand what is the right thing for them. To be guided by a sincere desire for the profession in which they want to develop with love, hard work, and perseverance. To be brave, patient, and eager for development. To follow the inner urge to become better and to like what they do.