Nikolay Ginov is a versatile Bulgarian-British cellist, born in Plovdiv and based in the UK. He performs on modern, classical, and baroque cello, as well as the viola da gamba and bass violin. His diverse repertoire spans from the 17th to the 21st century.

As a member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Nikolay has performed under renowned conductors such as Sir Roger Norrington and Sir Simon Rattle, including appearances at prestigious events like the BBC Proms and international concert tours.

A passionate chamber musician, he has participated in numerous international festivals, including Musica Nova (Sofia), March Music Days (Ruse, Bulgaria), Oberstdorf Summer Music Festival (Germany), and the Banff Summer Music Festival (Canada). He has collaborated with acclaimed ensembles and artists, including the Freude Piano Trio, Sonore String Quartet, London Schubert Players, Trevor Pinnock, and Laurence Cummings OBE.

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Before moving to the UK, Nikolay was a soloist with the Dobrin Petkov Symphony Orchestra (Plovdiv) and the Pancho Vladigerov Symphony Orchestra (Sofia), making recordings for Plovdiv Radio, Bulgarian National Radio, and Bulgarian National Television.

Since relocating to the UK in 2001, he has performed at major venues such as Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Purcell Room, collaborating with various chamber ensembles.

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Nikolay earned his MMus and Fellowship in modern cello under Stefan Popov at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He then pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in baroque cello with distinction under the late Jennifer Ward Clarke at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the DipRAM and the John McAslan Prize for his outstanding final recital.

He is a founding member of the Spirituoso String Quartet, Baroque Ensemble LUX, and Scholars and Gentlemen, with whom he performed at the Valletta International Baroque Festival. Recently, he established the baroque ensemble Il Capo, alongside Asako Ogawa (harpsichord), Oliver Webber (baroque violin), and Kristiina Watt (theorbo).

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In addition to his performing career, Nikolay is a dedicated and passionate teacher. Some of his students have gone on to study at prestigious institutions, including the Paris Conservatoire and the Vienna Hochschule.