Sharon Tchonev

Operations Director
Varna International Music Academy

Our Director of Operations, Sharon Tchonev, left her home in Israel to earn her law degree from the University of South Africa in Pretoria. After graduation, she worked as a Communications and PR Manager, organizing international conferences that hosted thousands of leaders from more than 100 countries. In 1998, Sharon moved to the United States where she spearheaded fundraising activities for underprivileged people in Sub-Saharan Africa. After marrying Kalin, she joined him at Varna International, where her unique combination of organizational skills and heart to serve have had a significant impact on the company's culture.

As a granddaughter of two survivors who were rescued by the Bulgarian people during the Holocaust, Sharon and Kalin launched Songs of Life, debuting the 1st Songs of Life Festival in 2008, in four cities of Bulgaria and Israel and in 2011 in Washington DC, Boston and New York City. In 2022, Songs of Life collaborated with Violins of Hope-Israel and brought the performances to 12 cities in South Carolina.