Join a night of musical pleasure and meaningful social purpose on Saturday, 03 October 2026, as internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso Ivan Yanakov takes the stage at the Plumeria Grand Ballroom at the Padma Resort Legian in Bali.
A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, Ivan Yanakov was born into a musical family that quickly recognized his prodigious talent, sending him to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance from Mannes College of Music in New York, where he studied under Arkady Aronov and Stephanie Brown. Later, he earned honors in the Artists International Debut Series Prize at Carnegie Hall.
Ivan was also appointed as a full-scholarship fellow at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, where he studied with Michele Campanella. With an insatiable appetite for musical scholarship, he continued his piano studies in Bulgaria with Meyer Franck and Triphon Silyanovski.
In high demand as a performing classical pianist, Ivan Yanakov has appeared in over 30 countries across Europe, Oceania, Asia, and North America. He has graced stages including Carnegie Hall Recital Hall in New York, Cadogan Hall in London, Sydney Town Hall, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Concert Hall, Sapporo Concert Hall, Okinawa Convention Center, Hong Kong City Hall, the National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei, and the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.
His latest recording, released in February 2026, features the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Nayden Todorov, performing Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
Ivan Yanakov, Conductor
Pianist Extraordinaire
Ivan works as the artistic director and conductor of the London Chamber Players.
Ivan Yanakov made his conducting debut with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. He has given master classes at major universities, most recently at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Hong Kong Baptist University. Yanakov also regularly adjudicates international piano competitions and is a jury member of the Ernest Bloch International Competition at the Royal College of Music in London. He also served as the chairman of the jury at the First Russian Piano Music International Competition in Sanremo, Italy in September 2019.
At home in Bulgaria, Yanakov has performed as a soloist with major orchestras, including the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra.
One of Yanakov’s highly creative pet projects includes The Four Pianists – an ensemble of two classical and two jazz pianists. This musical grouping has performed four times in Bulgaria before a 4,000-strong audience. In 2016, Yanakov, the Four Pianists and the London Chamber Players presented a combined performance at London’s Cadogan Hall.
For his one-night-only appearance in Bali, Yanakov will draw from his Bulgarian roots, presenting the music of Tabakova and Vladigerov. The evening at the keyboard will also feature the compositions of Chopin, Gershwin, and Rachmaninoff.Ivan Yanakov has generously donated his time and talent to perform in Bali in support of the Bali Children Foundation and the Angela Wheelton Youth Center in North Bali.
The Bali Children Foundation
Bali Children Foundation (Yayasan Samiarsa Seminyak) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2002 by Margaret Barry, OAM, DSJ. In the chaotic period following the 2002 Bali bombing, Margaret was moved to action and tried to make a lasting difference after witnessing the consequences of tragedy and poverty reflected in inadequate educational opportunities.
Margaret Barry, OAM, DSJ –
BCF Co-Founder
One year after embarking on her charitable mission, Margaret Berry was personally beset by the tragedy of suffering a severe spinal injury which left her totally paralyzed. Following a slow and tortuous rehabilitative process, Margaret eventually found herself once again standing upright and able to fully dedicate herself to the charitable pursuits of the Bali Children’s Foundation, working with children’s homes in North and West Bal.
In 2007, Margaret Barry, working closely with Bali Children Foundation Chairman Agung Sutama and founding Board member Mike Dolbey, launched BCF’s first community-based project in Corot, North Bali, supporting 40 students. With funding support from Paul Wheelton and Lyndsay Beer, the program was a great success, paving the way in the coming years to empower the lives of a thousand disadvantaged children.
By 2016, BCF’s work expanded into East Bali and the nearby island group of Nusa Lembongan, the Gilis, and Lombok by providing scholarships and English as a foreign language studies. and programs focused on computer literacy to a growing community of students.
Bali suffered numerous setbacks and challenges from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Throughout the crisis, BCF used this period to prepare and deliver remedial literacy, writing, and numeracy skill-building programs for Balinese children in grades 1 to 3 that now form part of all BCF Learning Streams. These libraries and village halls have become ideal spaces for distributing food relief to children, families, older people, and people with disabilities.
On Nusa Lembongan, a community garden has been established to supplement the substantial food aid required to assist the tourism-reliant island.
On Lombok, school aid provided by BCF includes ‘team teachers’ introduced into oversized classes (40 to 60 students) that now play a critical part in local education following the devastation resulting from the 2018 earthquake.
BCF’s recent Year 12 Expo provided information on tertiary education, apprenticeships, and practicum work opportunities for the Foundation’s latest class of graduates.
A Night with Purpose – An Intimate Piano Evening with Pianist Ivan Yanakov
In support of the Bali Children Foundation
Saturday, 03 October 2026
Padma Resort Legian – Plumeria Grand Ballroom
Doors open at 6:00 pm for wine, canapés, and conversation.
The concert starts at 7:30 pm.
Tickets and Reservations
Ticket Prices Including Dinner and Performance
- Gold Rp 1,650,000 (Premium Seating)
- Silver Rp 1,500,000 (Standard Seating)
The evening’s program includes dinner, a charity auctions, an concert program by Ivan Yanakov.
Related Links
Booking and Reservations Via Megatix
Bali Children’s Foundation
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