Born in Sofia into the family of the distinguished poet, writer, playwright and translator Bancho Banov and the prima ballerina Rossitza Banova, at the age of 9 she won her first prizes in competitions. At the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov", Rossitza was in the class of the great Bulgarian pianist and teacher Anton Dikov for two years. In 1997, she left for San Francisco, where she was accepted to the Conservatory with a full scholarship and was a student of Professor Paul Hersh, and also worked with the distinguished pianist Mack McCray. 

Rossitza Banova received her master's and doctorate degrees at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of professors Evelyne Brancart and Emil Naumov. 

"Indiana is still one of perhaps the top ten music schools in America," says Rossitza, and continues: "Professor Evelyne Brancart is a Belgian, with a Queen Elizabeth Award (Concours musical international Reine Élisabeth). A very talented pianist and teacher who completely redesigned my technique. After her, I worked with the incredible professor Emil Naumov, to whom I owe a lot. He is such a great professional, but most importantly, he is very supportive of his students...".

"I have taught all ages - from 4-year-olds to students completing their bachelor's degree. I am currently working in a British school in China, where students range from first to 12th grade, and I mainly teach from seventh to 12th grade. I try to teach my students to be individuals, to think positively, and to develop the best of themselves. Those who are now in 12th grade, I try to prepare them for admission to universities or colleges around the world. This year I have four students who were accepted in Europe and America. But most importantly, I try to be diverse as a teacher - t improve their technique and musicality, to teach them a large repertoire. For me, teaching is a passion. I love teaching!"

How does she cope with the system in China: the way of life, the strict requirements, the observance of rules?

"This is the only thing that is difficult for me and makes me want to go back either to the Arab world or to America. The requirements in China are very strict. The school I work at now is British, yet it has a Chinese principal. You have to be at work from eight in the morning until six in the evening. If you arrive at, say, eight-thirty for several days in a row, you get fired without any warning at all. Many of my colleagues were fired from one day to the next. Or if you don't do your job properly, because every room has a camera and the principals (without you knowing when they are watching you) look at that camera and see if you are teaching a lesson, or if you are reading something on your phone, for example. As soon as they see this, maybe they give you a warning, I'm not sure... The situation is very strict".