Talented cellist, 26, who vanished after failing to appear at a concert is found ‘safe and well’
- Penka Petkova had last been seen at a flat in East London on September 20
- 26-year-old cellist was said to be spending nights at train stations in the capital
- Metropolitan Police revealed today that she has now been found ‘safe and well’
- She works as a cello teacher at Arts and Media School Islington in North London
A talented cellist who went missing for a week has been found ‘safe and well’ by police, six days after she failing to turn up to a concert and switched off her phone.
Penka Petkova, 26, had last been seen at her flat in Tower Hamlets, East London, on September 20 and did not make contact with any friends or family.
She was said to have been spending nights at train stations in the capital, but the Metropolitan Police confirmed today that she had been found.
Miss Petkova works as a cello teacher at Arts and Media School Islington in North London and has a degree from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Penka Petkova once appeared as a soloist for Classic FM’s Radio Orchestra and lives in London
Miss Petkova works as a cello teacher at Arts and Media School Islington in North London
Friends had reported the musician, who is originally from Sofia in Bulgaria, missing to the Metropolitan Police after she did not attend a concert on September 21.
The force had said it was ‘concerned’ for Miss Petkova and urged people to contact detectives if they see her.
But in an update this afternoon, a police spokesman said: ‘Thanks to those of you who shared our appeal for information about Penka Petkova who had been reported missing. We are pleased to let you know she has been found safe and well.’
Miss Petkova, who once appeared as a soloist for Classic FM’s Radio Orchestra, is said to be petite with brunette hair and speaks with an Eastern European accent.
The cellist is said to be petite with brunette hair and speaks with an Eastern European accent
She had last been seen wearing a black leather jacket, grey chequered trousers, pink and purple trainers and a clutch bag – and had her hair in a ponytail.
Miss Petkova, who began playing the cello aged five, was awarded an honorary diploma for artistic achievement by the Bulgarian culture minister in 2011.
Away from Bulgaria and Britain, Miss Petkova has performed around the world in the US, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Germany.
She has also performed as a soloist with the New Symphony Orchestra, and the philharmonic orchestras of Plovdiv, Pleven and Vratsa in Bulgaria.
Miss Petkova has a music degree from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Miss Petkova had last been seen at her flat in Tower Hamlets, East London, on September 20
Miss Petkova has also done solo and chamber music recordings for national television in Bulgaria and radio in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Conductor Thomas Blunt had tweeted over the weekend: ‘Penka is a talented cellist who studied at the Guildhall School and has been missing since September 20.
‘She was supposed to play at a concert on Tuesday and didn’t show up.’
He added: ‘She is spending nights at main London stations – please look out for her on your commute. No phone, cards or money, and has lost a lot of weight.’