Julia Tsenova graduated from the State Academy of Music in 1974 majoring in Composition under Professor Pancho Vladigerov and Piano under Professor Bogomil Starshenov. She took part in the composition classes in Sofia and Amsterdam (The Netherlands) under Ton de Leew (1981, 1982). Her creative activity as a pianist was connected with several European countries. Since 1999, she is Professor of Piano at the Pop and Jazz Music Faculty of the State Academy of Music. Chairman of the Society for New Music in Bulgaria (2000-2002). She started her activity in 1970s focusing on diverse genres and cultures. Her music is full of expressiveness and philosophy. In her works from 1990s, oriental philosophy and aestheticism draw attention. Her music language recreates various contemporary composition techniques.

She composed stage music, symphonic, chamber, choral works; children’s choir songs, songs for children’s vocal groups; pop songs; jazz pieces; music for puppetry, TV series, etc. Her works are performed at various music forums and concerts in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Italy, Hungary, Canada, Romania, Slovakia, India, Australia, Spain, etc.

Stage music:

Temptation – chamber opera-musical for soloists, chamber choir and orchestra, libretto by Pavel Gerdjikov, based on the work by Elin Pelin (1996).

Children’s musicals:
In the Land of Smiles, libretto by L. Manzova (1985);
We Are Shooting a Film, libretto by D. Dimitrov (1986);
The Golden Tail, libretto by Haralampi Haralampiev (1987);
The Adventures of Cipollino, libretto by D. Dimitrov after Gianni Rodari’s novel (1988);
Snowy, libreto by Haralampi Haralampiev (1987);
Ludi-mladi (Madcap Youth) (folk music balagan) after lyrics by Tzanko Tzerkovski, librettist and producer M. Mindov (1990).

Choral-orchestral works:

Ballad to ‘A’, lyrics by H. Chernyaev, for male voices choir and orchestra (1989);
Fresco for chamber (traditional music) orchestra and choir (1994).

Works for symphony orchestra:

Sinfonia con piano concertante (1974);
Movement for orchestra (1979);
Festive Music (1984);
Persuasion for symphony orchestra (without violins, violas and violoncellos) with harp, piano, synthesizer and electroacoustic set (2000).

For string orchestra:
Piece (1970).

For voice and chamber orchestra:
“n = 3.14” for voice and chamber orchestra (1998).

Chamber Music:

Endless Circle for string quintet, flute, French horn and piano (1995);
Water Sends me to Sleep for piano, clarinet, vibraphone and acoustic sound effects (1993).
“…calling on the gods” – for alto flute and texican sistrum, piano and texican drum, double bass and log drum (1996).

For flute, viola, harp and piano:
Concertino (1971);
Prelude and fugue (1973);
Green Silence (2000).

Music During the Entr’acte for viola, double bass, piano and tape (1986); The Unveiling of Izida for alt saxophone, piano, trumpet and sound acoustic set with echo effects (1998);
Music about the Mice for flute, clarinet and bassoon (1985);
Cantus firmus a due for clarinet, marimba and piano (1987).

For viola and piano:
Three Frescoes with Epilogue (1976);
Step and Rag-Time (1981).

Introduction and Message for harp and flute (1980).

For piano:
13 variations (1971);
Four prayers (1999);
Jazz album (1997);
Triptych for keyboard (1996);
Musica Solitudinis (1997);

Shopp Dance for piano for 4 hands (1998).

Vocal music:

Submersion into Poles for 7 voices (1990);
Seven songs for soprano and string quartet, lyrics by Kamenska (1975);
Three Indian songs for solo contralto, lyrics by K. Agarval (1973);
Love, Time, Death; Curriculum Vitae, both to poems by I. Bahman for voice and piano (2002-03).

Choral music:
For mixed choir:
Four songs, to poems by Emily Dickinson (1977);
Lullaby, lyrics by Ivan Genov (1984);
Direction – ballad, lyrics by M. Berberov (1985);
Fatherland – poem, lyrics by Georgi Djagarov.

For women’s chamber choir and solo soprano: Fetch Me, lyrics by Evtim Evtimov.

For women’s traditional music choir: Swan Song, lyrics by Z. Yankova (1997).

For children’s choir:
The Wonderful Dance, lyrics by Asen Raztsvetnikov;
Blue Horses, lyrics by Pavel Matev (1985);
Bright Sun, Wake Up, lyrics by Asen Raztsvetnikov (1989);
Whipping-top, lyrics by S. Donkov (1990).

Selected literature on her (in Bulgarian):
Tzinandova-Haralampieva, Vesa. Submerging into Poles. Painting a Portrait of Composer Julia Tzenova (Sofia, 2001).