Petko Naumov belongs to the first generation of Bulgarian composers. In 1896 he was admitted at the Prague Conservatoire and studied Violin for three years. In 1899 he continued his education at the Paris Conservatoire. He graduated in 1903 majoring in Composition under Pessar. Concurrently he played in various orchestras in order to earn his own living. He conducted the City Theatre in Cherbourg for a while. In 1903 he returned to Bulgaria. He was among the founding members of the Private Music School in Sofia (1904). From 1904 to 1912 he taught at the Private Music School, from 1912 to 1921 at the State Music School. In 1921 he joined the staff of the State Academy of Music teaching Violin (1921-23) and later was elected Rector (1931). Sasha Popov and Todor Vajarov were among his students. He founded a string orchestra and a string quartet, with which he toured for years. From 1925 to 1930 he taught Violin at the Ecclesiastical Seminary.

He contributed a lot to the development of the opera in Bulgaria. He was several times elected member of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Opera Society. In 1923 he was appointed Director of the Sofia Opera. He was also Vice-President of the Bulgarian Music Union and member of the Union of Professional Musicians in Bulgaria. He was among the founders of the Bulgarian National Philharmonic, too.

He wrote over 60 articles on topics related to the development of the Bulgarian music institutions, articles-portraits of eminent Bulgarian singers and instrumentalists, etc.

He composed an opera; pieces for orchestra; piano works; songs for voice and piano.

Stage music:
Strahil Voivoda, libretto by Tihomir Pavlov (premiered at the Sofia Opera, 1933).

Works for symphony orchestra:
Three Bulgarian Rhapsodies;
Three Bulgarian Poems;
Symphonic Poem “Sorrow and Joy”;
Two Symphony Dances.
Overtures: Ivan Vazov; Hristo Botev; Tutrakan Epic Story.

Chamber Music:
Waltzes and other pieces.

For piano: Five pieces.

Vocal music:
10 songs for voice and piano.

Choral music:
For male voices choir: March.