Milen Nachev, a Bulgarian orchestral conductor, was born on October 1, 1957, in Silistra, Bulgaria. He debuted as a pianist at the age of five and studied conducting and piano at the Bulgarian State Conservatory. He earned a full scholarship to the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he received his Master's degree under Ilya Musin. He completed his graduate studies in 1992 with an internship at the Orchestra of Paris. He was appointed principal conductor and director of the Rousse State Opera Theatre in 1989. In December 2002, EMI/Virgin released Mozart in Egypt, which was conducted by Nachev. Notable engagements include conducting J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor at the Vatican Millennium Festival, premiering Giuseppe Verdi's Don Carlos at Teatro Colón, and leading tours with Shen Yun Performing Arts in 2012. He has received awards for Outstanding Musical Leadership from the City of Vatican, the Foundation Napoleon in Paris, and the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture.
