AMTI

The Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv began in 1964 as a branch of the Bulgarian State Conservatoire in Sofia, on the initiative of Asen Diamandiev. It became an independent Higher Institute of Music and Pedagogy in 1972, with Diamandiev as its first rector. Training in musical folklore began at this stage, followed by choreography in 1975. The institution became the Academy of Music and Dance in 1995 and subsequently introduced visual-arts programmes. Its teaching combines artistic practice with pedagogy, preparing performers, artists and teachers. Rectors have included the composer Ivan Spasov, who led the institution from 1989 to 1996.