A native of Bulgaria, bassoonist Valentin Martchev has been Principal Bassoonist of the San Diego Symphony since 2004. He has served as Guest Principal Bassoonist with the LA Philharmonic and was Principal Bassoon of the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Martchev was a member of the performance faculty at the University of Virginia from 1998 to 2001, and currently teaches at San Diego State University.