Milcho Leviev Isakov is Bulgarian jazz musician , composer , arranger and pianist , he worked for much of his life in the United States . He is a brother of the well known painter John Leviev . Milcho Leviev was born on December 19, 1937 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in a Jewish family. He graduated from the State Conservatory in 1960. His professors were Pancho Vladigerov and Andrey Stoyanov . He began his career in the theater . He was appointed conductor of the Big Band of Bulgarian National Radio from 1962 to 1966 . From 1963 to 1968 he worked as a soloist and conductor of Plovdiv and Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra . He created Fokus'65 Jazz band, which toured at home and abroad until 1970 with great success. One of his most famous works of this period is the arrangement of the song of Paul McCartney's "Yesterday" . He also writes film music . In 1970, at the invitation of Don Ellis he left Bulgaria and went to Los Angeles . He stayed with him until 1977. In 1980, he returned briefly in the country and gave a series of concerts . He was on numerous tours throughout Europe and the USA . He taught at the University of California, a Southern and Master Class at New Bulgarian University . He is an author of symphonies and chamber music . In 1997, he was awarded with the order "Stara Planina" for "extraordinary his great contribution to the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of music and the 60th anniversary of his birth" .In 1999, he was awarded with the title "Honorary Doctor of New Bulgarian University" "for contributions to modern interpretations of jazz and contribute to the department of" Musical Performing Arts "of the New Bulgarian Unevercity." In 2007, he was awarded with the medal "St. St. Cyril and Methodius "- necklace , for " especially for his significant contribution to the development of culture and art and on the occasion of 70 years since his birth. " His compositions: for Symphonic Orchestra: Variations on a Theme by Corelli for piano and symphony orchestra .
