Victor Chuchkov studied at the State Academy of Music majoring in Composition under Professor Vesselin Stoyanov and Piano under Professor Lili Atanassova. He took part in the Vacanze Musicali Summer Courses in Venice. In 1966 his composition Venice Impressions won him a scholarship by the Santa Cecilia Conservatoire in Rome. He graduated in 1971 majoring in Composition under Professor Virgiglio Mortari, Piano under Vincenzo Vitale, Chamber Music (a special three-year course) under Guido Agosti. He won a scholarship to study piano at the Santa Cecilia Academy in the class of Carlo Zecchi. He attended the Summer Chiggiana Academy in Siena studying Chamber Music under Professor Ricardo Brengola and the Summer Academy in Taormina studying Piano under Professor Ornela Santoliquido (1972).
He was prizewinner at the pianists’ competitions Fr. P. Nelia (first prize, 1969), A. Casagrande (fourth prize, 1970), A. Cazella (the special prize, 1970). He also won the Musician of the year 2000 Prize awarded by the Bulgarian National Radio, the Golden Star Prize for his song “Rainbow” at the festival in Bologna (1984), the Honorary Medal of the towns Monza (Italy) and Araracuara (Brazil), the Grand Prix for Film Music at the First Film Competition of The Red Cross (Varna, 1972), the Golden Plume Prize of the Bulgarian Classic FM Radio, etc.

In 1974 he joined the staff of the State Academy of Music as a lecturer in Chamber Music, Piano and Composition. He was promoted Professor of Chamber Music in 1996. Since 2003 he has also been teaching Film Music at the National Theatre and Film Academy. He has often appeared in concert. He was guest musician with orchestras in Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil (five concert tours), Russia, the USA, Malaysia, Macedonia, etc. He also gave composition, chamber music and piano master classes in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Brazil and Malaysia. He has been a member and president of international juries and competitions for pianists.

He wrote an opera, symphony and chamber music; music to feature films, documentaries and cartoons; children’s songs, etc. With Music for Burning after Lubomir Levchev (commissioned by Lubomir Pipkov and the March Music Days International Music Festival, 1973) he made a name for himself as one of the first Bulgarian composers to have made experiments in the field of the electroacoustic music. His composition style focuses mainly on a synthesis between the various genres by original genre approach and the use of authentic traditional tunes individually reconsidered. Viktor Chuchkov’s music was recorded and produced by Balkanton, Sermi, Fonit Chetra, Viktor (Japan), DIV (Austria), Edipan, Imagendata (Brazil) and EMI. His best children’s songs were included in an author’s album and released on CD in 2003.

During the period 1999-2005 he has been President of the Union of Bulgarian Composers.

Stage music:
The Firefly – fantastic opera (premiered at Sofia Opera in 2000).

Choral-orchestral works:
The New 1878 Cantata after Ivan Vazov (1978).

Works for symphony orchestra:
Letters From The Future for voice, rock band and symphony orchestra after Ray Bradbury (1981).

Concerto for laughter and orchestra dedicated to Rossini’s 200th Anniversary (1992).

Nostalgic Variations for kaval, piano and orchestra (1994).

For piano and symphony orchestra:

Concertino (1968);
Concerto (1978).
Transcription of Petko Staynov‘s Rachenitza for piano and symphony orchestra (2002).

For chamber orchestra:
Venice Impressions (1966).

Music For Burning after Liubomir Levchev for tape recording, alt flute, reader, piano and string orchestra (1974).

European Suite for three traditional music singers, young violinist, clarinet, piano and small orchestra (1998).

Chamber Music:
Poem about Peter the Great for nine pianists on three pianos and children’s chamber choir (1998).
Sonata for ten instruments (1976).
Piano Quintet “Longing for Bach” (commissioned by the festival in Groeningen, the Netherlands) (2000).
Piano Quartet (1982).
Piano Trio (1978).

For piano:

Studies (Nostalgia for 8/8 Rhythm); Nocturnes; Variations on the Name of Casella; Music Portraits; No Rests for four hands; over 30 piano pieces intended for various ages.

Children’s songs: Please, tell us seriously; Creation’s Choir (performed by the Antoniano Children’s Choir in Bologna) and many other songs.

Film music to:
Ivan Kondarev, directed by Nikola Korabov (1974);
Question Time, directed by Hristo Hristov (1984);
A Reference, directed by Hristo Hristov (1986);
The Neighbour, directed by Adela Peeva (1988);
Test 8/8, directed by Hristo Hristov (1989);
Conservfilm, directed by Zlatin Radev;
Beyond Borders (France) (TV serial, 1996); Sulamit, directed by Hristo Hristov (1997); Mountain Crystal (Italy), directed by M. Zaccaro (2000).