Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington

Our Mission

The mission of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington (PACO) is to create intimate, inspirational musical experiences throughout the Washington DC area by engaging the community through vibrant music making by the orchestra and chamber ensembles.

Our Vision

PACO will perform traditional classical favorites, rarely heard works by well-known and new composers, and skillfully arranged reductions of larger orchestral masterpieces. We will also provide encouragement to Washington DC area composers by commissioning and performing their new works. Moreover, we seek to make classical music accessible to the entire community. Low income, at-risk, disabled, students, youths and elderly individuals will be encouraged to attend, by receiving discounted admission to our events. PACO will thrive by interactively engaging our audience, and exclusively highlighting our orchestral artists as soloists.

In a nutshell...

The main artistic drive behind PACO is the desire to revitalize the classical music scene from within, by re-imagining & redefining the content and delivery of classical concerts. This means approaching each program or individual work with a fresh mind, searching for ways to make the music more engaging, more inspiring, more profound. Our biggest aim is to fill our audience with the passion we feel about our music, and create truly memorable performances.

Dimitar Nikolov, a versatile conductor, pianist, and educator, has conducted orchestra and opera performances in the United States and Europe. Audiences have been impressed by his ability to energize the orchestra and to produce a unique sound within large dynamic range. He has held conducting positions in the US and his native country Bulgaria, including his current position as Music Director/Conductor of Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra. Dr. Nikolov has appeared as guest conductor with orchestras in the United States, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Russia, Romania, and Ukraine.

Dimitar began his career as Assistant Conductor of the Burgas State Opera in Bulgaria. Early in his career he won the Vienna Chamber Orchestra competition and had the opportunity to conduct a subscription concert with one of the world greatest chamber orchestras. This success led to numerous guest conducting opportunities with most of the major Bulgarian symphony orchestra and his appointment as Music Director/Conductor of the Bulgarian National Wind Symphony. After moving to US in 1996, Dr. Nikolov served as Music Director/Conductor of the Fort Dodge Symphony and Assistant Conductor of Des Moines Metro Opera, before his current appointment as Music Director of the Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra. He has conducted concerts in some of the most prestigious world concert halls such as The Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Mozart Hall (Vienna, Austria), and The National Palace of Culture Concert Hall (Sofia, Bulgaria).

Dimitar has studied with many eminent conductors such as Ilya Mousine, Yury Temirkanov, James Levine, and Alan Gilbert. In 1999, as a fellowship recipient, he spent a summer in Aspen, studying with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin. He has a DMA in Orchestral Conducting from The Catholic University of America and MM from the National Academy of Music-Sofia, Bulgaria.

Dr. Nikolov is also active as an educator. He has served on the music faculty of The Catholic University of America, Waldorf University, Simpson College, the International School of Music, and the Bulgarian National Academy of Music.

Dimitar lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife Nicole, Princess (an old but adorable cocker spaniel), and Mecho (hyperactive American Eskimo). For more information, please visit Dr. Nikolov’s website: www.dimitar-nikolov.com.

FRIENDS OF PACO

Help us hit the ground running!!!

The Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
    
The main artistic drive behind the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington (PACO) is the desire to revitalize the classical music scene from within, by re-imagining & redefining the content and delivery of classical concerts. This means approaching each program or individual work with a fresh mind, searching for ways to make the music more engaging, more inspiring, more profound. Our biggest aim is to fill our audience with the passion we feel about our music, and create truly memorable performances.

Your generous gift will help the Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington make music relevant to new generations of audiences through virtuosic performances that combine a diversity of genres with fresh interpretations of classic works.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities (chair endowments, concert/full season dedications, underwriting soloist fees, etc.), please contact our Executive Director, Alisha Coleman at (571) 483-8444 or via e-mail at info@PACOdc.org with your inquiry, questions or comments about Friends of PACO donor benefits.

Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington

612 West Maple Avenue
Sterling, VA 20164

Thank you for your support!

All Checks should be made payable to PACOdc, Inc.

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HIRE US!!!

PACO is available for hire and/or collaboration. Our experienced musicians and management team are pleased to cater for the needs of almost any project. Whether you wish to hire an orchestra for a function or event, or to accompany your solo project, or record your composition. Whatever the event or project, PACO can tailor the orchestra or other associated chamber groups to your musical requirements with excellent quality of performance and management. To discuss your project in more detail and to get a quote, contact Alisha Coleman, Executive Director, on (571) 483-8444 or email her at info@PACOdc.org.Add paragraph text here.