Associate Prof. Krastin Nastev
Krаstin Nastev is conductor of the Varna Opera and lecturer in choral conducting at the Music Academy in Albacete, Spain. He has worked as conductor of the Philharmonic Choir of Madrid, conductor of opera choirs in Antalya, Plovdiv, Teatro del Serclé in Barcelona. Guest conductor of the Ankara Radio Choir and orchestras of Bursa, Eskisehir, Antalya, Pleven, Plovdiv. He has conducted the Sofia Opera, the Sofia Philharmonic, the National Philharmonic Choir and the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. He won the special prize at the Europa Cantat conducting competition in St. Petersburg. He has adjudicated at the Hong Kong International Choral Festival, the St. Petersburg International Choral Festival and the International Choral Festival in Paralia, Greece. Doctor of Musical Sciences (2023). As from 2026 Nastev became Associate professor at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts "Prof. Asen Diamandiev"- Plovdiv.
Associate Prof. Sergei V. Pavlov
Sergei Pavlov is Associate Professor at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin (USA) and Artistic Director of the Madison Festival Chorus. His previous positions include Principal Conductor of the Chorus of the Teatro Nacional Sucre in Quito, Ecuador; Chorus Master at the Théâtre Châtelet in Paris, France; Assistant Conductor of the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina; and Conductor at the University of Illinois Opera Theater (USA). Dr. Pavlov has given masterclasses in Bulgaria and Spain.
Prof. James Hahn
James J. Han is the director of choral activities for Lamar University. He conducts both the A Cappella Choir and the Grand Chorus. Dr. Han received a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting and literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and he earned a Master’s of Music with honors in choral conducting from the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.
A native of Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Han has taught at the University of Illinois and at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. He has also trained many church choristers. While in New Jersey, Han performed with the world-renowned Westminster Choir and the Westminster Symphonic Choir in performances with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, and the Spoleto Festival USA. He also founded and directed the Mid-New Jersey Men’s Chorale.
Dr. Han has worked with high school, university, church and professional choirs, including Knox College Men’s Vocal Ensemble, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Concert Choir and Master Chorale, University of Illinois Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Varsity Men’s Glee Club and All-State Region Choirs and the Symphony of Southeast Texas. Dr. Hahn given choral conducting master classes in Valencia and Albacete in Spain, Europe.
Mrs. Desislava Gavrailova
Ms. Gavrailova honed her musical skills at the Academy of Music in Plovdiv, studying under eminent mentors such as Prof. Ivan Spassov (conducting), Vassilka Spassova (conducting), and Prof. Georgi Petrov (piano). Dessi debuted her career as a leader of two well established choirs in the Bulgarian city of Haskovo: “Rodna Pesen” and “Collegium Musicum”. Under her guidance, “Collegium Musicum” achieved international critical acclaim, securing the second prize at the Varna International Choir Competition. Her passion for choral music extended to founding the “Pizzicati Haskovo Children’s Choir” and a school-based choir program.
Further work and international opportunities brought Dessi to China where she was mentor and supervisor for Music College and choir consultant for various choirs.
Pursuing her quest for excellence and cross-cultural curiosity, Ms. Gavrailova completed her “Diplôme Supérieur” at the University François Rabelais in France. Her professional focus shifted toward the intricacies of French diction and vocal coaching.
Since 2002, Dessi has called Canada home. She has significantly impacted academia as an instructor, vocal coach, and pianist in residence for the Campus Saint Jean Choir at the University of Alberta.
Under her leadership and tutelage, countless students, soloists, and choirs have honed their skills in singing, collaborative piano, and diction. As a sought-after vocal coach and accompanist, Dessi continues to nurture and inspire emerging young artists in her private music studio.
Associate Prof. Serdar Ilban - Voice technique
Serdar Ilban has performed with many prestigious opera companies in the United States, Europe and Israel. Equally at home in opera, oratorio and recital repertoire, he has sung with organizations that include the New Israeli World Festival Opera, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Las Cruces Symphony, Henderson Symphony, New York City Opera National Tour, Sarasota Opera, Opera Manhattan, Bronx Opera Company, and Il Piccolo Teatro dell’Opera-New York. Some of his notable roles include Escamillo in Carmen, Silvio in I Pagliacci, The Professor in Carl Nielsen’s Maskerade, Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale and the title role in Gianni Schicchi.
Dr. Ilban earned a Bachelor of Music in opera performance from the University of Istanbul, completed a Master's of Music at The Boston Conservatory with a full scholarship and received a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
In 2011, Dr. Ilban joined the faculty at Lamar University as assistant professor of voice and opera. He currently serves as the vocal area coordinator and director of the Lamar Opera Theatre. Previously, Dr. Ilban taught at Southern Utah University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was the interim director of the UNLV Opera.
Many of his students have performed in young artist programs such as the Aspen Musical Festival, the American Institute of Musical Studies and the College Light Opera and Opera Festival of Rome. His students and former students are actively performing in the United States and abroad.
An internationally active performer and clinician, Dr. Ilban recently presented his research on practical voice pedagogy and voice psychology at the International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden. A recipient of the 2010 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Emerging Leaders Award, Dr. Ilban is an active member of NATS, European Voice Teachers Association and Pan European Voice Conference. His other research interests are Holocaust-related vocal music literature, and dramatic revivals of neglected operatic repertoire suitable for college-age performers. He remains active as a performer, opera director and clinician.
