Hristo was born in Pomorie, Bulgaria in June 1992 and started to play percussion at the age of five, studying with Roman Melnikov and subsequently Ivelina Novakova. In September 2006 Hristo joined the Purcell School supported by a scholarship from the government's Music and Dance Scheme, where he studied percussion with Peter Beament and later Kevin Hathway, and drum kit with Darren Altman. In September 2010 Hristo enrolled at the Royal College of Music where he holds a Foundation Scholarship. He is currently taught by David Hockings (orchestral percussion), Andrew Smith (timpani), Daniella Ganeva (marimba), Hugh Wilkinson (Latin percussion), Ralph Salmins (drum kit) and Anthony Kerr (jazz vibraphone).
Hristo has had successes in numerous competitions including second prizes at the 'Pendim' Bulgarian National Competition for Percussion Instruments (2001) and the Seventh International Youth Music Festival in Albena, Bulgaria (2002). He was also awarded first prize at the Bulgarian National Competition in 2002, 2004 and 2006. At the 'Pendim' International Competition for Percussion Instruments, Hristo was placed second and third in 2003 and 2005, respectively. Whilst at the Purcell School, Hristo was a finalist in the Senior School Concerto Competition in 2009 and was Highly Commended in 2010. He also won the Junior Guildhall Tuned Percussion Competition in 2009.
Hristo's orchestral experience consists of performances with the Purcell School Symphony Orchestra (both as a student and guest), the RCM Sinfonietta and Symphony Orchestra, Watford Symphony Orchestra, the Water City Orchestra, Watford Brass Band and the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra (Fulham), at venues including LSO St. Luke's, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Watford Colosseum and St. Albans Abbey. In 2011, as part of London's collective junior percussion ensemble, Hristo performed at the Royal Festival Hall. As part of the Purcell School Jazz Band he performed at various venues including the House of Lords, with musicians such as Anthony Strong and Sir John Dankworth. In December 2010 Hristo played for the musical production of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' at the Questor's Theatre, Ealing and in May 2011 recorded the Crystal Maze Musical by Peter Facer and Simon Burdus. As a soloist, Hristo has given a number of performances including appearances at the Wigmore Hall, St. Martin in the Fields and the Floral Hall (Royal Opera House).
Hristo is a member of the worship team at Hillsong Church, London, where he plays drums and occasionally percussion at the Dominion Theatre in the West End. As part of the church band he has also played at venues including the O2 Arena, Wembley Arena, the Victoria Apollo Theatre, the ExCeL Exhibition Centre and Bush Hall and has been on tour to Berlin and Amsterdam as well as Greece, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and Norway. As a session drummer Hristo has performed and recorded for various bands and artists including Tom Moriarty, MaLoKai, Pete McAllen and Daniela Hogger. Performances have included Frenzy Festival (Edinburgh), Dny Dobrých Zpráv Festival (Prague), The Late Show with Joanne Good (BBC Radio London), The Elgin (Ladbroke Grove), The Good Ship (Kilburn) and the Half Moon (Putney).
Hristo has been in a flute and percussion duo since September 2008 with flautist Emma Halnan. Having met at the Purcell School, they have appeared twice at the Wigmore Hall, as well as at Cadogan Hall, the Bath International Music Festival, Hitchin Festival, Bushey Festival. Other performances have included a concert-celebration as part of a larger ensemble for Commonwealth Day 2009 at Westminster Abbey. In February 2010 Hristo accompanied Emma in the BBC Young Musician of the Year Woodwind Final and Semi-Final at the Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff (broadcast on BBC 4), and Emma proceeded to reach the Grand Final. A few months later the duo was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2's "Friday Night is Music Night".
