Handpan Masterclass with Ivan Judas in Sofia
Handpan Masterclass with Ivan Judas in Sofia
Calling handpan players from Bulgaria and across Europe - let’s come together for a weekend of music, exchange and fresh inspiration at Zendō Space in Sofia, Bulgaria 💜
Join Croatian handpan player Ivan Judas for a two-day masterclass exploring rhythm, melody and freedom of expression.
📅 17–18 October
🕙 10:00–17:00 each day
📍 Zendō Space, Sofia
💳 Reserve your place with a 50% deposit (€100). The full weekend price is €200, with the remaining €100 payable at the event.
🌿 What will we explore?
Across four signature themes, we’ll deepen our connection with the instrument and discover new possibilities in our playing.
🥁 Singing the Beat
What if you could sing the rhythm before you play it? Through rhythmic syllables inspired by konnakol, we’ll explore how vocalising rhythm can strengthen your timing and deepen your groove.
☯️ Dancing Between Polarities
Soft and powerful. Bright and dark. Sound and silence. We’ll explore dynamics, phrasing and different approaches to touch and tone, learning to move between contrasts to bring emotion and depth to our music.
🛸 Advanced Handpan Techniques
Expand your technical vocabulary through articulation, hand independence, ghost notes and rhythmic accents. We’ll explore how to use advanced techniques with control and intention, opening up new possibilities for musical expression.
✨ Improvisation & the Five Elements
Step beyond familiar patterns and find fresh inspiration for improvisation. We’ll use the five elements as a starting point to explore intuition and develop your own musical language.
Who is it for?
For handpan players who want to expand their musical vocabulary, refine their expression and bring more freedom into their playing. If you find yourself returning to the same patterns, want a deeper understanding of your instrument or simply feel ready for a new perspective, this weekend is for you.
With a maximum of 10 participants, we’ll have space for focused practice, individual attention and learning from one another.
Meet Ivan Judas 🇭🇷
Ivan Judaš is a Croatian handpan player, composer and educator, and one of the pioneers of the handpan ecosystem and community in Croatia. Through festivals, performances and teaching workshops, Ivan builds bridges across the Balkans and Europe bringing handpan players together around rhythm, creativity and shared musical experience.
He is the founder of Handpan Festival: Međimurje, connecting Croatian and international players, and a composer for film, with credits including Stefan Đorđević’s award-winning Wind, Talk to Me. His work brings together improvisation, rhythmic play and atmospheric sound.
Plan your weekend
📍 Where: Zendō Space, in the heart of Sofia, Bulgaria
📅 When: 17–18 October, 10:00–17:00 each day
👥 Group size: Up to 10 participants
✈️ Travelling from abroad? Sofia has connections with cities across Europe through Wizz Air and Ryanair, making it an accessible destination for a musical weekend away. Check their routes for flights from your nearest airport.
🛸 Travel light: Zendō Sounds handpans will be available on site, so you don’t need to bring your own instrument if you’re travelling.
💳 Full weekend price: €200
The €100 ticket purchased here is your advance payment to reserve your place. The remaining €100 is payable at the event.
✨ Let’s bring handpan communities across Europe closer, learn from fresh musical voices and inspire one another. Come with your experience and curiosity, and leave with new ideas, new connections and a fresh spark for the instrument we love.