Maya Nova

Maya Nova is a passionate and soulful jazz vocalist from Bulgaria, who’s music comes from the jazz standards tradition and improvisation.

Born into a family with a great love for music and singing, Maya started playing classical guitar at 10 and later studied in the Music school in her home town, taking up piano as her second instrument.

Upon graduating with Masters at National Music Academy in Sofia, she appeared on the live music stage with several group projects: Mayrose Jazz Trio, funk bands Chameleon and Infinity, pop-band Forte.

Finalist at 2 Voice Competitions for young talents: “Golden Orpheus” and “Star Moments”, where she performed with National Radio Big Band.

Other credits include appearances at Sofia Jazz Fall Festival with her own quartet and the popular “Todor Kolev’s night show” with National Music Academy Big Band.

Following some years of touring extensively in Europe, Maya moved to Singapore in 2002. A familiar face in the live music scene, she has held residencies at hot night spots and jazz aficionado clubs as The Bar at the Regent, Jazz @ Southbridge club, City Space at Equinox, Chihuly Lounge at The Ritz Carlton Millennia.

Maya continuously performs at concerts, festivals and corporate events around the region: Mosaic Music Festival(Singapore), “Jazz by the Beach” Sentosa(Singapore), BMW Official Dealership’s Opening (New Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Shanghai, Singapore), Alexis Bistro (Kuala Lumpur), Asian Aerospace Awards(Singapore) to name a few.

Being an active educator, she currently holds the position of Main Study Voice Lecturer at LaSalle College of The Arts, Singapore and conducts vocal lessons privately.

Last year Maya was a semi-finalist of the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition 2009 at the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

In May 2010 Maya Nova is releasing her self produced debut album “OPEN”. It includes renditions of 8 standards like: “I’m Old Fashioned”;” You and the Night and the Music”, “Speak Low”; “Wild Is the Wind” etc. and 2 originals: “Polegnala e Todora Blues”(based on the Bulgarian Folk song) and “Open”.

The album was recorded at Sonic studio Singapore over 2 days recording session in October 2009 with an acoustic trio featuring Tan Wei Xiang on fender rhodes piano, Andrew Klein on double bass and Tan Boon Gee on drums. All tunes were arranged by Maya Nova and the band. The sound of this record carries the feel and attitude of a live performance.