The Bulgarian-Norwegian pianist Iskra Mantcheva acquired her professional music education at the College of Music in Sofia and later at the Bulgarian State Academy of Music under Professor Nikolay Evrov (well known Bulgarian concert pianist, once a student of Heinrich Neuhaus).

Ms. Mantcheva attended the Tschaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, working with the highly respected Russian pianist - Professor Anatoly Vedernikov (partner of Sviatoslav Richter in piano duets) and Professor Victor Merjanov. The Russian Academically Degree, and Anatoly Vedernikov’s personal and artistic contact with Sergei Prokofiev are the links to the sources, which inspired Iskra Mantcheva to interpret large repertoire of Prokofiev Piano Works, later recorded on 3 CDs.

Ms. Mantcheva continued her graduation in Vienna under Professor Paul Badura –Skoda who characterized her as a “fully matured pianist, sensitive, vital, intelligent”. Here she mastered a number of Piano Concertos by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Piano Sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert .The Vienna repertoire is released on DVDs, CDs, live performances and broadcastings.

Since 1987 Ms. Mantcheva has conducted piano classes at the Bulgarian State Academy of Music in Sofia, and later in Oslo, Norway. Active concert experience includes more than 41 different programs, performed in more then 600 concerts (solo recitals and as a soloist of orchestras) in Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, USA, Russia, and Austria. Also well known for performances of contemporary music, she gave premiers of the first five Dimiter Christoff sonatas for the label Concord Records in the USA and Piano Concerto No 3 for Gega new label. 

Iskra Mantcheva`s discography includes 7 CDs released on Concord Records in the USA, Grappa, Victoria, Imart Classics, IMP Norway, Gega New Bulgaria. 4 DVDs present the pianist both on solo recitals and as an orchestral soloist.
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The large solo piano repertoire is completed by transcendental works as Mussorgsky`s Pictures at an Exhibition on CD; Prokafievs Sonatas no. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9; “Romeo and Juliet”, Vision Fugitives on 3 CDs; Schumann`s Carnaval Op. 9, Etudes Symphonique; Brahms`s Paganini Variations; Schubert`s Sonata D960, D 840, Chopin’s Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Brillianteon CD, Sonata in B flat minor, Grieg Sonata, Beethoven Sonatas, etc.

National Radio Sofia and TV, and Norwegian Radio [NRK] broadcasted several recitals.
Favourite Piano Classical Repertoire includes Valses, Mazurkas, Etudes, Ballades, Polonaise Impromptu by Chopin, Impromptus by Schubert, Lyrical Pieces by Grieg, Preludes by Rachmaninoff, Mozart Sonatas, etc. The program was performed on concerts and released on 3 CDs.

The recitals in Norway took place in Oslo Concert House, Den Gamle Logen, Munch Museum.OMLF; in Sofia Concert House ”Bulgaria”, National Palace of Culture, National Radio Hall; in Moscow Conservatory, Moscow and St. Petersburg’s Composers House, Berlin Hans Eisler Hall, Weimar Am Palee, Vienna Conservatory and Bösendorfer Hall, Miami Hall in USA, etc.