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Born in Kazanlak, Bulgaria, Svetla began playing piano-accordion at the age of eight. By the end of high school, she had earned three first place finishes, one second place and one third place in the International Accordion Competition for her solo and duet performances. She was the first person to receive the award for best in musical achievement and excellence as the top graduate of the six high schools in Kazanlak. She began a self-learning program on the play of the bayan (chromatic button accordion) at the start of her university studies. She was the third accordion player ever to learn and perform with the bayan in Bulgaria. Svetla received a degree in Music Education from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, majoring in accordion and piano.

Svetla's passion for various musical genres has given her the freedom to perform a wide range of musical pieces with their variations to include original music and transcriptions from other instruments. Her personal repertoire includes Classical music pieces, Folk, Jazz, Gypsy, Cajun, Zydeco, as well as contemporary and popular dance. Her extraordinary virtuoso techniques and pure musical talent have enabled her to perform in previously uncharted areas in the music world through the play of the bayan accordion.

In addition to performing, Svetla teaches button and keyboard accordion, as well as piano and music theory.