Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Svetlana Frateva-Beddow, but my friends call me Lana. I was born in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It is known for its beauty and incredible place in the history of European civilization. There you can find examples of Byzantine and Roman arts and sciences.
I was fascinated by music at an early age. My family has an excellent musical pedigree. My great grandfather was a famous flautist and one of the founders of the Philharmonic Orchestra in the city of Stara Zagora. My parents furthered my musical education by introducing me to the classics at an early age. Clearly their love of music was one of the major factors that propelled me into the profession of music performance and education.
Let me help you understand the nature of my musical education and the fundamental difference between Eastern European Specialty Schools and the rest of the world. Eastern European Specialty Schools encompass either arts, (e.g., music. dance, ballet, painting, sculpturing) or sports (e.g., hockey, gymnastics, tennis, weight lifting, swimming etc.). I'm sure you are familiar with the history of competition from the former Soviet bloc of countries.
While such specific studies limit the student's education to a particular endeavor, it does produce a very high level of professional accomplishment, thus raising the standard in a chosen field. Upon graduating the Specialty School of Christina Morfova I received my Bachelor of Arts with a Major in flute performance and piano. I was awarded my Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy (the art of teaching music) with advance studies in educational psychology from the Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance.
After graduation I was privileged to perform and tour Bulgaria as a solo flautist with the Stara Zagora Philharmonic Orchestra. My public appearance includes a Woodwind Chamber Quartet and a number of recordings for the local Radio Stations. I decided to further my experience by forming my own trio.
The band's formation was a very exciting time for me. For six consecutive years we toured Western Europe; Finland, Sweden, Germany, The U. K., Holland, Belgium, to name a few. We worked with many famous agencies, including Music Monitor, The Firm Proking Oy from Finland. They also represented number of American artists and bands, for example, The Platters. We were one of the very first European bands to be signed on by the Mark Asley Agency in California in 1992. This allowed us to come to the United States, where we toured and cruised the Caribbean. Throughout all these years of performing, the idea of starting a music school based on the European Music Methodology and Traditions had been formulating. Thus, in 1993 Orpheus Music was founded.
Initially, starting a new career in teaching was prompted by the desire of utilizing my degrees. This desire led me to experience new levels of internal gratification. Teaching children became a two way street and I found myself learning from my students at least as much as I taught. Being able to install love and appreciation for music is the ultimate experience for me and it is something that could never be taken away. Being part of my student's life, seeing their progress and accomplishments through talent shows and public performances, not only makes me proud but also makes my life worthwhile.
On the persanal note: My ultimate pride and joy in life is my four-year-old daughter Angelina. My parents still live in Bulgaria, but visit often.

Uliana Ilieva-Clark is one of Orpheus Music’s premiere professors. She is a mezzo-soprano vocalist and accomplished pianist. Uliana began her studies in piano at the age of five and graduated from the Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance as a piano and voice major. She earned a Master of Music degree in Opera at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. She was privileged to study at the Dresden Opera Studio.
Uliana was Assistant Professor of Opera at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia from 1996 to 1998. She has appeared as soloist with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra, the Plovdiv Chamber Choir, and the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra. As a singer in recital, opera, and oratorio, she has toured Russia, France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Germany, Turkey and USA. In 1995, she sang with the chorale at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. She has made opera recordings with the National Radio Symphony Orchestra and with the GEGA Record House.
Uliana recently graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was a graduate assistant teaching voice at the USM School of Music. While at USM, she appeared as a soloist in the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the USM Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, and also sang Rosina in the USM production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. In 2003 she appeared in the Boston Lyric Opera’s productions.
Her endeavors in Massachusetts before joining the music faculty at Orpheus Music in Boston include; a voice teacher at the Community Music School in Springfield and currently teaches at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster.
Her students love her ability to make learning music fun and enjoy her easy manner and professional approach.