Ekaterina Nikolova Arguirova

Ekaterina studied piano and voice at the Bulgarian Musical Conservatory in Sofia where she excelled in opera. After graduation she performed in numerous operas, her favourite leading role was as Cio-Cio-San, in Pucini’s Madame Butterfly. At 30 years old Katia became a mother and chose to shift her creative focus to teaching music and choral conducting. A long and celebrated career followed with numerous awards for excellence in choral conducting at both local and national choral festivals. Later in her life she received the status of “Honorary Citizen” of Karlovo, (her home and birthplace) in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the cultural life of the city.

Katia loved music (classical and opera), dancing, gardening, cooking in her summer kitchen, baking wonderful cakes and desserts, hiking in the mountains, drinking Rakia with all who were blessed to come to her table. Most of all Katia loved her family – her husband and life partner Vassil, her son Nikolay, her grandson Sasha, her mother Maria, and father Nikola. Her family together with her extensive creative relationships with fellow musicians, singers and students alike helped her shape a well lived and celebrated life.

In the year 2000 she moved to Canada to live with her son and family, first in St. John’s, Newfoundland and later in 2004 in Vancouver, British Columbia where she lived out the final twenty years of her life. She adored Vancouver and was in awe of its natural surroundings. She felt greatly blessed to spend the last chapter of her life in such an extraordinary place, even as her home in Karlovo always remained in her heart.

Ekaterina is eternally a light in our world.