anavelinova.com
Jazz vocalist, conductor and songwriter Ana Velinova has been a Ward Street Music Productions artists since 2013. She has inspired audiences around the world with her wide range arstistic talents. With a repertoire extending from Mozart and Stravinsky to Ellington, Dorsey and Jobim, Ana has shared the stage with many accomplished jazz artists including Bob Moses, Neil Swainson, Don Thompson, Brad Turner, Willard Dyson, Miles Black to name a few. 

A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, Ana has lived and performed in major US and Canadian cities. During her years in New York City she explored the avant-garde jazz music scene and formed the band 'Ensemble Gergana.' The eclectic band released a CD of entirely improvised music showcasing Ana's unique improvisational vocal skills and adventurous artistry.

Highlight of Ana's 2014 performance season is the release of her new album "Tenderly" featuring Canadian Juno award winning artists Phil Dwyer on saxophone, Miles Black on piano and Rene Worst on bass. Tenderly is preceded by her albums The Thief (2010,) Softly (2011) and InhalExale EP (2012).

Ana Velinova holds a Master's Degree in Jazz & Contemporary-Classical Voice Performance from the Longy School of Music in Boston, undergraduate studies in Vocal Jazz from the Musician's Institute in Los Angeles and a diploma in classical guitar from the National Music School in Bulgaria.

In addition to her solo career Ana dedicates time to conducting adult and youth choirs and vocal jazz ensembles. She was the founder of the Bulgarian Children's Choir and School "GergAna" in New York which was named after her Bulgarian name in 2006. In the past seven years she presided as the conductor of the Victoria Conservatory of Music Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the Eagle Arts Academy Youth Choir and has worked with the One Human Family Gospel Choir as a director/vocal coach.