Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, Ivo started playing music at the age of seven, taking lessons for several years in drum set, piano and vibraphone. At the age of thirteen he began playing percussion professionally with the Philharmonic Pioneer, a symphonic orchestra led by the legendary conductor Vladi Simeonov. He spent the next six years touring and playing with the orchestra in places like Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Greece. He also played with modern and traditional rock bands (drum set, xylophone and vibraphone) during that time. In 1991 he moved to the U.S. and has since recorded and played with artists like Stefan Caro, Paula Maya, Gypsy Sue, B.S.G., Bicycle, Sunday Morning Music and others.

In early 2002 he released his first solo recording and currently he is working on a second one. His love for unorthodox approaches to music and his roots in Bulgaria make his style unique and recognizable. His style which he calls, "Bulgarian funk," has earned him recognition by peers and fans in Seattle.

He has taught at the drum school since January of 2002. As a teacher he concentrates on helping students connect with the music, "with the whole body and not just the hands." He attempts to teach students to think for themselves, to learn how to approach a song and come up with a drum part. He focuses on technique, being loose, reading music, "learning to let go to get control" and understanding that playing the drums is more than just playing a rhythm, it's playing music.

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