The Valtchev-Tchekoratova Duo brings together two Bulgarian musicians and distinguished Juilliard graduates. Their first collaboration was in 1996: a concert tour, entitled Musical Treasures from Bulgaria under the sponsorship of the Cyril and Methodius International Foundation. Since then the artists have presented numerous performances to great audience and critical acclaim, throughout the United States and Europe. Their most notable appearances were at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall, the 92nd Street Y Faculty Concert Series, the Dame Myra Hess Series in Chicago, and at many international chamber music festivals. During the 2008/2009 Season the Duo is engaged to perform at the Plovdiv Chamber Music Festival and Sofia Music Weeks in Bulgaria, the Bastĺd Chamber Music Festival in Sweden, Weill Recital Hall in New York, the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in New York, Nicholas Roerich Museum Sunday Afternoon Concerts, the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago Concert Series, and at the Deerfield Art Museum, MA. As strong advocates of Eastern European music, the musicians recently presented a series of events in the Washington, D.C. area, featuring lesser-known works by Bulgarian composers. These concerts were presented by the World Artists Experiences organization. Their debut CD of Béla Bartók's Violin and Piano Rhapsodies and Sonatas was released on Gega New label in March of 2008.

Pianist Lora Tchekoratova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. She began her piano studies at age four. Soon after, she became a pupil of the legendary piano pedagogue Lydia Kuteva. At age nine, Lora gave her first solo recital at the State Music School "Lubomir Pipkov" where she received her high-school education. In Bulgaria she also studied with Vessela Marinova and Prof. Jenny Zaharieva. In 1992, at the suggestion of Prof. Zaharieva, Lora moved to the United States where she continued her studies at the Juilliard School in New York. As a student of Seymour Lipkin Lora earned a Bachelor's, Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees thus becoming the first Bulgarian musician to hold a Doctorate from Juilliard. While still a student, she won numerous scholarships, awards, grants, and the first prize of the 1996 Washington International Competition for Pianists. Her solo debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. was followed by recitals, and chamber music appearances throughout the United States and in Europe. Lora Tchekoratova has been praised for her virtuoso performances of piano music from the 19th and 20th centuries. In her vast repertoire, she shows a particular interest in the music from Eastern Europe. She has made numerous recordings for radio and television stations in the United States, Finland, Sweden, and Bulgaria. In 2005, together with distinguished Bulgarian musicians, and the American Foundation for Bulgaria, she co-founded the concert series Bulgarian Concert Evenings at the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in New York.

Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Georgy Valtchev began his violin studies at age six with Boyanka Shopova. He received his basic music education from the State Music Schools in Plovdiv and Sofia. He achieved his first international success at age sixteen when he won the Grand Prize of the "Kocian" International Violin Competition in then Czechoslovakia. After a short study at the State Music Academy in Sofia Mr. Valtchev was accepted as a student of the renowned Violin professor Ms. Dorothy Delay at the Juilliard School in New York where he was awarded full scholarships for the duration of his studies for the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. He has been honored with a number of awards, among them the First Prize of the Ducrest International Competition, and the Special Prize of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition. Mr. Valtchev's repertoire encompasses works from the standard violin repertoire as well as music by 20th century masters, such as Schnittke, Berg, Yanacek, Bartok, Piazzolla, Part, Harrison, and Vladigerov. His diverse programs show a deep respect for tradition as well as a sense of adventure. A dedicated chamber musician, Mr. Valtchev enjoys frequent performances with distinguished international artists in the United States and Europe.