Silviya Mateva of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, started studying piano at the age of seven and began her organ studies when she was 16. She is enrolled in the Doctoral program at the University of Oklahoma and studies with John Schwandt. In 2012 she began serving as a teaching assistant in music theory.  In addition to her assistantship at the School of Music, she is the organist-choir director at Trinity Lutheran Church in Norman.  In 2008 Mateva received her Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance (summa cum laude) from Stetson University.  She completed her Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music in 2010.  She was an official participant in the 2009-2010 NYACOP and has received honors from two piano competitions.  She has received numerous awards and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda.