OUR TEAM

Anne Walsh has been teaching voice for nearly three decades, and uses a technique for all styles of singing, from classical and light opera to jazz and pop. Her teaching resumé includes nine years at the American Music and Dramatic Academy in the capacity of private voice instructor, Mt St Mary’s College as a private voice instructor, Long Beach City College in the capacity of Director of a Vocal Jazz Ensemble and private voice studies. Anne is currently teaching at Orange Coast College as a Professor of Pop Vocal Technique with a jazz emphasis. The fall of 2020 will mark the beginning of Anne’s fourth year at Orange Coast College.

Presently as a performer, nationally renowned jazz/pop/bossa vocalist Anne Walsh is known for an authentic style of singing that is neither purely jazz or purely pop but rather a fusion of the two. While Anne is classically trained and has performed various operatic soubrette roles, she also spent many years in musical theatre including principal roles in national equity houses. Her personal repertoire includes standards from the Great American Songbook, pop songs and Brazilian jazz. She had always dreamed of creating her own unique sound and producing her own projects. Since 2009, Anne has done this. She and her husband (Pianist and arranger) Tom Zink have released three successful Jazz albums. With their first “Pretty World” garnering a Grammy Nomination.

Additional past roles include: In the classical genre, Anne has sung various operatic soubrette roles including Despina and Zerlina in the Mozart operas Cosi fan tutti and Don Giovanni. Musicals theatre credits include Mame (Pegeen Ryan-Anne worked opposite Carol Lawrence and Sally Struthers) with Musical Theatre West, Sound of Music (Maria), Man of La Mancha (Antonia), Camelot (Lady Anne/Guenevere) with Downey Civic Light Opera; Music Man (Marion), Peter Pan (Mrs. Darling), and Pirates of Penzance (Kate) with Limon Carr Productions; and She Loves Me (Amalia) at the Whittier Playhouse. Her versatility as a singer, and extensive scope of instructional techniques is what sets her apart as a teacher. Training: Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from California State University Long Beach. She has studied under Jane Lahikainen, Marvalee Cariaga, Andy Beonttner (Seth Riggs associate), Elizabeth Hynes, Marge Rivingston, and Joann Zajac.

Pianist Alla Konviser, while still in Russia, after receiving her Masters in Piano Performance, held a position of a concertmaster and a piano coach with Minsk State Musical and Pedagogical Academy. In the last over 20 years Alla has became an accompanist to many Los Angeles musicians such as international star Aida Vedischeva, soloist of Bulgarian National Musical Theatre Mariana Popzlateva, Romanian star Carina Cheriach, Russian opera singer Gregory Rusanovsky, award winning classical vocalist Veronica Bell, and many others.

For the last 15 year, Ms. Konviser has also been working with legendary violinist-virtuoso Daniel Shindarov. She has appeared in many musical festivals, concerts, and TV programs. Alla’s diverse interests in wide variety of music and exceptional technical skills allow her to seamlessly morph into many different musical styles, from classical to pop to jazz which make her irreplaceable to any musician she works with. In addition to her busy performing schedule, Ms. Konviser is holding a position of faculty member of music and ballet departments at Santa Monica College, Joffrey Ballet Company, and Idyllwild International School of Arts. She also teaches and coaches private piano students.

galileo-art.com

Leonid Katsnelson was born in Kiev, Ukraine and brought up a keen sense of artistic beauty and style in European traditions. He studied at the Ukrainian Academy of Printing, where he received a Master’s Degree in book art.
 
Leonid Katsnelson for many years successfully collaborated with leading publishing companies of the former Soviet Union.
He has prepared and published over 200 books of poetry, prose and literature for children. His work earned him a reputation as a true master of his craft. Leonid Katsnelson, many believe, is an artist of the perfect balance between traditional artistic ethics and the avant-garde, combining classical forms and modern trends. His works are elegant and full of harmony, demonstrating a deep understanding of art in all its forms. He is a true professional with a sense of conformity and true value of style.
 
Since 1994, Leonid Katsnelson lives in Los Angeles, participated in national and international exhibitions of books, graphics and drawings, and was awarded several high awards. Over the past twenty years, the artist has been enthusiastically working in the field of computer graphics and digital painting. His works are presented in private collections in the USA, in many countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Poland, Israel, Canada, Japan, Finland, etc., which brought him the love and respect of fans and patrons around the world. The artist remains true to his principles and creates his works with devotion and ardor of the pioneer.

Emese Mohai is a Classical Opera and Broadway Vocalist and concert pianist. She is a graduate of the Zoltan Kodaly College of Music in Hungary in 1994 and received her Bachelors Degree in Music, Teaching Credential and Artist Diploma from the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy in Hungary in 1998.

As a performing member of the Kodaly Chorus, Emese toured with the group to Germany, Austria, Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. She studied voice with Professor Eva Marton and piano with Professor Endre Zador. Emese has appeared in productions of operas by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and sang the title role in Bizet’s opera, “Carmen”.

Emese’s Linguistic skills gave her the capability to perform these operas in their original Languages of Italian, Hungarian, Russian, German, French, Spanish and Finnish. She is currently a recording vocal musician for Walt Disney Productions and the Nickelodeon Cartoon channels. As concert pianist, Emese performed Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Liszt’s “Rhapsody” with the Liszt Academy Orchestra in Debrecen, Hungary.
She is fluent as a teacher of piano and voice, applying all the appropriate techniques, music theory and performance skills at levels ranging from complete beginner to advanced performer.

Dr. Maxim Kuzin
Lecturer/Conductor, UCSB Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir
The University of California, Santa Barbara

https://www.music.ucsb.edu/

Ukrainian-born conductor Maxim Kuzin serves as Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA and is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting at UCLA with Professor Neal Stulberg. Before arriving in the U.S. in 2014, Mr. Kuzin held concurrent positions in Ukraine as Music Director of the Reinhold Glier Kyiv Institute of Music’s Symphony and Chamber orchestras and Head of the Opera Preparation Department of Dnipro Glinka Conservatory of Music. He has also served as Music Director for Krivoy Rog Music Theatre and “Ricochet” New Music Ensemble of the National Composer’s Union of Ukraine, and worked as a conductor at the President’s National Orchestra of Ukraine, the Kiev National Operetta Theatre, and Opera Theatre of the National Tchaikovsky Music Academy of Ukraine.

Mr. Kuzin has toured Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia and has served as a guest conductor of orchestras in Eastern Europe and in the United States including the National Symphony Orchestras of Ukraine (Kyiv) and Georgia (Tbilisi), Vladivostok Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), UCLA Philharmonia and Symphony orchestras, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, and others.

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Mr. Kuzin began music studies at age seven at the Lysenko Boarding Music School for Gifted Children, specializing in choral singing and conducting, with a piano minor. Maxim Kuzin is a recipient of the Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Scholarship Award (2017-18) and was designated as an “Emerging Artist” by the League of American Orchestra’s Symphony Magazine in 2005.

Leonid Proskurov was born in Russia and started Ballroom dancing at the age of 6. Very early in his training, he was recognized as an extraordinary talent in both International Standard and International Latin. He became a champion of Eastern Russia in ten dances. As a junior in high school, he was invited by the Kaiser Dance Academy of New York which offered him the opportunity of training with world-class coaches from all over the world.

Leonid began his professional career at the age of 20 when he moved to Los Angeles, California, to work as a coach, choreographer, and competitive dancer. He trained many students who later went on to become national champions. His most recent professional accomplishment is becoming a national certified adjudicator in all levels of International style ballroom dancing.

Leonid is fulfilling a life-long dream of sharing his knowledge and passion for ballroom dance with anyone who has the desire to learn! His approach to teaching children is of top caliber; his ability to connect with the child, and to interest them in what they are learning, is one of a kind. Leonid is co-owner of Beverly Hills Ballroom. He teaches many group classes and is available for private lessons daily.

The life of Evgenia Gennadia-Willis has not followed the traditional path often found in the art world. Serving as an inspiration to those that seek to realize their dreams and desires Evgenia has not only enjoyed professional success in Architecture but has now realized her lifelong dream of becoming a professional artist and educator. 

Born in the Russian city of Archangelsk Evgenia attended both regular and art schools. She then continued her education in Warsaw, Poland where she completed High School with Summa cum Laude. Returning to Russia she obtained her degree in Architecture. Thereafter she supervised major government construction projects all the while continuing her art education on her own. 

After moving to the United States, she had the opportunity to dedicate herself entirely to art. In 1999 she received her Degree in Graphic Design from Platt College in Newport Beach, California. The computer knowledge served as a great support as her education continued in Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, California. In 2009 she completed bachelor’s degree with Summa cum Laude and in 2013 master’s in fine Art. 

From 2003 until 2007 Evgenia exhibited her artwork at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California. She is also a cofounder of United Society of Pastel Artists (USPA), 2006 and an active member of various professional societies including Russian-American Art Foundation in West Hollywood. 
Evgenia has experience working as an Art Teacher in “Russian Kids’ Studio,” located at the University of California, Irvine and giving private art lessons to people of various ages, artistic abilities, and cultural backgrounds. From year 2014 she is an associate faculty member and an art show curator at the Emeritus Institute of the Saddleback College. Her art studio is located at the Open Market OC, 24000 Laguna Hills Mall, California.

Looking back on her long path in life and ongoing dream of becoming an artist she believes that her versatile education and life experiences form the basis of her artistic success today. 

Anya Zinoveva is a visual artist, a filmmaker, and a digital media specialist. Her professional career began at the age of 15 with participation at the Statewide Fall Art Show in Ukraine sponsored by the Ukrainian Artist Union. Anya holds a certificate in Painting and Drawing from Shevchenko State Art School, Ukraine. Upon moving to the United States, she continued her fine art career and participated in numerous art shows, including Russian American Art exhibitions sponsored by Unity in Diversity Art Foundation. 

Anya also became fascinated by the possibilities of visual storytelling. As she saw the connection between painting and video editing, she pursued her MA degree in Video Digital Art at California State University, Northridge. For her thesis, she produced, directed, and edited a feature-length educational documentary “Rousseau, or on Education”, which earned the Medal of Appreciation from the City of Ermenonville. Anya continues to explore visual storytelling and interactive media, as she is currently pursuing the ALM in Digital Media Design at Harvard Extension School.

Anya Zinoveva is a Professor of Art at El Camino College and Professor of Communication Studies at the Holy Names University, teaching digital art and web design classes.

Kristina Aglinz is an award-winning pianist, singer and composer.
She graduated from the Gnesin’s Academy of Music (Russia)  as a classical pianist and got Master of Music degree. 
Kristina Aglinz is Founder, Music and Artistic director of the “Ultra Musica Festival” (Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory).      
Kristina Aglinz’s winnings at different prestigious contests witness her serious approach to the matter of arduous and elite art of classical playing the piano.
She is a member of American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC), American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), member of Russian Composers Union.

Dr.Natalia Kartashova was born in Russia, Saint-Petersburg.
After studying at prestigious Music School for highly gifted children, Natalia was accepted to Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music. She started giving recitals in Russia and abroad from the age of 6.

After graduation she pursued her career and education in Moscow, studying with Maria Gambaryan and Emmanuil Monaszon (Honored Artist and Piano Professor of Russian Federation.
While studying both psychology and music in Moscow, Dr.Kartashova participated in International Piano competitions, winning First Prizes and the Grand Prix (France, Spain) frequently appeared on TV and radio stations performing and being interviewed, participating in master classes with D. Bashkirov,M.Pletnev, V. Ashkenazy, V. Gornostaeva.

In 2006, upon graduation with academic excellence award and President’s award for Musical accomplishments, Natalia relocated to United States.
By 2009, she earned Master’s degree from UCLA, studying with world-renowned pianist Professor Vitaly Margulis, and by 2014 she completed Doctoral degree in Piano Performance, serving at the same time as Teaching Associate at UCLA.

In 2015 Dr. Kartashova established her own school, Russian Academy of Music. She is frequently invited to give master classes to prominent young musicians and as an adjudicator to multiple international piano competitions in the US and abroad.

Today, Doctor of Musical Arts, Ph. D in psychology, Natalia Kartashova is Steinway educational partner, an active member of various professional organizations, who lives in Los Angeles, CA, performing, recording and raising new generation of wonderful pianists.
Her students are the winners of various international piano competitions, and perform on the most prestigious stages in the world.

juliapolanskaya

Julia Polanskaya (JULIANA)  – Vocal Coach, Laureate of International Competitions in Europe and the USA, singer, actress, received an Extraordinary Artist grant from Legendary American producer Quincy Jones in 2013.
Along with her artistic carrier, for several years she conducts classes for professional singers and choir soloists, trains stage performance for musical theatre groups.

Originally from Russia, Julia Polanskaya well known as amazing performer of traditional Romances, Pop Songs, Opera and Operetta. She started from Musical Theatre in Saint-Petersburg as an actress, but became independent and later on she continued her way in music business as touring artist. For more than 15 years she performs on stage at gala concerts, festivals as a host and solo singer, as well as a member of the jury of professional Russian and International musical competitions.

Since 2013 in Miami and now Los Angeles Julia Polanskaya leads the “Vocal Master” Studio, where her students are Russian celebrities, professional singers from Brazil, Israel and the USA, as well as young aspiring talents who just starting their carrier on the path of vocal field.

Since 2017, the boundaries of the studio have expanded under Online International Vocal School “MIR GOLOSA” name, where Julia conducts counseling and training online for Russian Speaking community around the World.  Modern learning opportunities open up new horizons for the exchange of vocal methods and experiences. Lessons and workshops with Master Vocal Coach Julia Polanskaya are now getting noticed on Youtube!

Throughout her career dramatic soprano Alla Markovich who hails from Belarus has enjoyed roles of Salome, Iolanta, Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Zemfira (Aleko), Mimi (La Boheme), Tatiana (Eugene Onegin) and other roles performing with St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Opera, Opera Idaho, Opera Cultura, Belarus Music Academy Opera Studio. A winner of Jāzeps Vītols International Competition, Latvia and Bettina von Bernstorff Award, Germany, she performed in Verdi’s Requiem and Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder on concert stage with Boise Philharmonic (Boise, ID) and One World Symphony (New York City) orchestras, as well as on stages of St. Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, San Diego H&M Artist Foundation and Peterhof Palace in Russia. She championed contemporary music performing works by Prokofiev and Shostakovich, premiering songs by Russian composers S. Slonimsky, V. Uspensky and S. Oskolkov.

Alla Markovich has studied voice at Belarus Music Academy, Berlin Hans Eisler Hochschüle für Musik and St. Petersburg Conservatory where she received Doctor of Music Art degree. She also studied with great singers Fedora Barbieri, Galina Vishnevskaya and Vladimir Atlantov.

Lacey Mae Schwimmer (born June 28, 1988) is an American ballroom dancer and singer. She is best known as a fourth place finalist of the third season of So You Think You Can Dance. She is the daughter of noted dancer Buddy Schwimmer, as well as the cousin of Heidi Groskreutz, who placed fourth on the second season of So You Think You Can Dance and younger sister of Benji Schwimmer, the winner of the show’s second season. She participated in the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer paired with Lance Bass of ‘N Sync, in the eighth season of the show paired with Jackass star Steve-O and in the ninth season paired with actor and Iron Chef America host Mark Dacascos. Schwimmer returned to Dancing with the Stars for its eleventh season and she was partnered with Disney Channel star Kyle Massey and in the 12th season, paired with radio host Mike Catherwood. In the thirteenth season, she was paired with transgender activist Chaz Bono. Schwimmer did not return for season 14 of Dancing With The Stars.

Schwimmer competes in West Coast Swing and International Latin dance styles. She made an appearance in Jon Chu and Adam Sevani’s “Biggest Online Dance Battle” against M&M Cru and was credited as a member of America’s Best Dance Crew with Hok, another So You Think You Can Dance competitor. She’s made television appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Good Morning America, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In 2008 she danced alongside Adam Sandler at the MTV Movie Awards 2008. She then appeared in the video of the song Rainbow, by Elisa with singer songwriter Vinnie Ferra.

She is a part of the Hollywood Dance faculty teaching master classes in the United States and Norway. Schwimmer also has her own line of tube socks as well as a dance wear line designed by Sugar and Bruno Dancewear collection.

Schwimmer’s debut single, “Love Soundz”, was released June 21, 2011.

Lacey Schwimmer grew up in Redlands, California. Her parents are Laurie Kauffman and notable West Coast Swing dancer Buddy Schwimmer. She is the younger sister of Benji Schwimmer, winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance. She is not related to actor David Schwimmer.

Schwimmer has been training and dancing competitively since a young age. At age seven, she and partner Brian Cordoba danced in the 1995 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. At age ten, she and partner Blace Thompson placed 1st in the Young America Division at the 1998 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships.
Schwimmer went on to have annual top rankings at the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships and has won numerous U.S. titles.

In January 2003, Schwimmer was paired with Jared Murillo, and the two began competing at a junior level. They were upgraded to the youth level in August 2003 and participated in dozens of competitions. They received the U.S. title in the Young Adult Division of the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. They were also awarded the US National Youth Latin Championship in 2006. Schwimmer also appeared in Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman” music video as a jitterbugger.

Schwimmer and Murillo have a cameo appearance in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody in the episode “Loosely Ballroom”. She is in the background of the scene during which a ballroom competition takes place.

Schwimmer entered the preliminary auditions for So You Think You Can Dance’s third season partnered by her brother, Benji Schwimmer, following his win the previous season.

After her selection to the top 20 finalists, Schwimmer was paired with contemporary/hip hop dancer Kameron Bink. The two danced together for five weeks successfully, with judges praising their chemistry and the ease with which they danced together; they were the only couple never in danger of elimination. As per the show’s competitive structure at the time, couples were assigned new partners each week after week five; Schwimmer subsequently partnered with Danny Tidwell, Neil Haskell and Pasha Kovalev before being named to the season’s Top 4 Finalist.

Historically, Lacey Schwimmer is among a group of ten dancers to have advanced through their respective seasons to the finales without finishing a single episode in jeopardy of elimination (others include Donyelle Jones, Katee Shean, Jakob Karr, Ashleigh Di Lello, Evan Kasprzak, Kent Boyd, Marko Germar, and champions of seasons 2, 4, and 8 respectively, Benji Schwimmer, Joshua Allen, and Melanie Moore).

Schwimmer joined her fellow season 3 contestants in the show’s 2007 dance tour, which began in Albany, New York.

Lacey assisted her brother Benji in choreographing a West Coast Swing routine for Katee Shean and Joshua Allen during the show’s fourth season.

Born in Moldova, Diana Volman holds a master’s degree in piano performance from the Moldova State Conservatory of Music. She is the winner of the Sixth International Čiurlionis Competition and was awarded first prize in the Rachmaninoff All-State Competition. She finished conservatory with the highest honors, and was offered a place on the faculty upon graduation. During her tenure, she was highly regarded as an interpreter of contemporary Moldavian and Ukrainian composers, and was frequently asked to debut their pieces and serve as editor of their published music. Her teachers include such eminent pianists as Vitaly Margulis, Dimitri Bashkirov, and Yevgeny Shenderovich.

In 1990, Diana immigrated to Los Angeles where she has taken on an active role in the cultural life of the Russian community. As Music Director of the Unity and Diversity Arts Foundation, she has spearheaded myriad events comprising many internationally distinguished artists. A sought-after accompanist, she has given highly acclaimed performances in such venues as the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Thousand Oaks Civic Auditorium, and the San Gabriel Auditorium, collaborating with such eminent artists as Anatoly Berkovich, Daniel Smith, Mariana Popzlateva, and Timur Abdikeev, among numerous others. She has organized many fundraisers within the Jewish community which bring the sacred art of cantorial music into modern life.

In 2013, she was elected president of the Russian Advisory Board of the City of West Hollywood. In March 2013, she was invited to Jerusalem to record a solo CD of her repertoire, which is set to be released at the end of this year. She enjoys a career as a respected piano teacher whose students have gone on to attend prestigious music conservatories such as the Berklee College of Music, and is frequently asked to judge national competitions for young performers.
She is a proud mother of three successful children.

Mariana Popzlateva is a world-famous coloratura soprano.
Her international career stems from the Stefan Makedonski National Musical Theatre in Sofia, Bulgaria where she performed more than 30 principal roles: as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady”, as Maria in “Westside Story “, as Adele and Rosalinde in “Die Fledermaus”, as Silva Varescu in Emmerich Kálmán’s “Gypsy Princess”, as Hanna Glawari in Franz Lehár’s “Merry Widow”, and many more. She has done also many operatic roles in the most prestigious theaters and concert halls like Teatro Real in Madrid and Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Stefan Makedonski National Musical Theatre in Sofia, Russia, Hong Kong, Dolby Theater and Luckman Theater in Los Angeles, San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, and Marriott where she performed for the President of China. Mariana has shown versatility in repertoire, ranging from Broadway to opera, operetta, and sacred oratorio and contemporary pop-opera styles.
Mariana is a MM Voice and Instrumental teacher with many credits and long years of dedicated worldwide experience.

goldenkeyart.com

Tamara Balenko is the founder and co-owner of Golden Key Art School in Los Angeles, the Representative of the American Society of Bookplate Collectors & Designers in Los Angeles, and a member of the Ukrainian Artist’s Union. 
Awarded the medal of Paul Steller, Tamara’s artworks are regarded by many to be masterpieces of beauty. They have been displayed at over 100 exhibitions across a dozen countries, and at museums such as the Memorial Museum of Paul Verlaine in Metz, France, the National Museum of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in Kiev, Ukraine, and the Brunico Graphic Museum in Brunico, Italy. Her works are held in high esteem by collectors from all over the world. As a participant of international competitions in graphic art, Tamara Balenko was awarded with the Third Prize for the International Exhibition of Bookplate dedicated to the discovery of America, and many other awards.
In 1997 and 2013 her artworks were published in Encyclopedia of Modern Ex-Libris and Contemporary International Ex-Libris Artists in Portugal. Tamara’s biography, and her paintings and book illustrations were published in Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine, Vol. II, 2003.
Tamara Balenko has a diverse career in arts, including painting, graphic design, book design & illustration, and art education. Tamara has 18 years of experience teaching art in Ukraine, and over 20 years in Los Angeles where she founded Golden Key Art School in 1999.
Together with her husband and co-owner Vladimir Vasilyev, she provides art education for a wide audience and organizes art shows. Numerous times she was awarded by different organizations including The Certificate of Appreciation given by The City Council of the City of West Hollywood for organizing the Children’s Art Exhibit at the 10th Annual Russian Style Festival in 2011, and The Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Community Service given by California  Legislature to Golden Key Art Studio on behalf of the 50th Assembly District of the State of California.                              

www.verarey.com

Yelena Chemerisov was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and worked as an artist in Los Angeles, California for thirty years before recently moving to Basalt, Colorado. She holds a BFA from Otis Parsons School of Art and Design and focuses on oil painting mastery, as well as art education. The concepts of her work deal with an always searching for the meaning of life. The artist in a true meaning of the word is always serving as a vessel between fantasy and reality, composing an intuitive world. That world then triggers a subconscious craving for the Unknown. And there are always Scales for what we do in life: Death will always take a toll, but as much as we can prolong a Beauty of this world reflected in our works … as much as we all can dream and be useful. Hundreds of Yelena’s works – including large paintings, portraits, still life, drawings, murals, etchings and watercolors – have been shown at exhibitions worldwide and belong to private collections. And at www.verarey.com they live their endless, virtual life. Yelena is available for commissioned portraits and murals, she teaches drawing and painting classes for all ages in her home studio. She is excited about beginning a new chapter in her life in the mountainous expanses of the Roaring Fork Valley.

Artist Statement

Any artist has a privilege of stopping a moment of existence, and, within this moment, creating an entire world of self-realization. This constructed world reflects the essence of artistic ability, along with the emotional state, which existed during the time of creation. Any picture is a mark of an artist’s soul, like an imprint of flower petals while being dried between two pages of a book. For me, being an artist is a process of leaving a part of myself in each micron of a canvas I touch, splashing pollens of vitality, recognizing myself as human being.

Born and raised in the former Soviet Union, Zinovy Shersher began his artistic life in his early youth. Already attending music school, he began to study art at the age of 9. Once he had finished high school, Shersher began his studies at the University of Fine Arts in the city of Kursk. After being awarded the Master of Arts degree in 1970, he enrolled in the College of Music, graduating in 1976.

In 1972 Shersher moved to Moscow, where he unofficially began his career in visual arts. Since he refused to paint politically-related images, such as portraits of Soviet political leaders, the Soviet authorities would not allow Shersher to exhibit his art to the public. With the help of his friends, he showed his works of art in underground exhibitions, in secrecy from the authorities. Regardless of the obstacles on the path of his artistic career, Shersher did not give up his creativity and continued to work in both visual arts and in music.

Upon arrival in the United States, Shersher enrolled in New York’s prestigious School of Visual Arts. It was not long before his art was flourishing with his new found freedom and began to receive critical acclaim in one-person and group shows in New York galleries.

A composer as well as a painter, Shersher creates lyrical paintings which merge the emotional and intellectual into melodic images of passionate tranquility. Strong feelings for movement, expressed with curvilinear lines and cubist sensibilities, form a counterpoint to the artist’s peaceful and harmonious themes.

In 1992, Shersher was commissioned to create stained glass windows for the Russian Chabbad Synagogue in Los Angeles. In windows, in his own style, he created historical compositions of Moses, first Temple, God Creation of the World, etc.
In 1993 he was commissioned to do a painting with the portraits of First Oscar winners for the 65th Anniversary of the Oscars.

In addition to galleries, he is also represented by the R&S Gallery of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Hollywood Entertainment Museum.

Zinovy Shersher is an award winning member of The Oil Pastel Association.
More than 100 articles, TV and Radio interviews devoted to Zinovy Shersher. His biography is in the “Encyclopedia of Living Artists in America”, “Who is Who in Art” and “Who is Who in The West”.

Dmitry is recognized as one of the most distinguished Ballroom Dancers and Choreographers in The United States and around the World. A Star Professional on “Dancing With The Stars,” an EMMY Nominated Choreographer for his work on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and is one of America’s favorite dancers.

Dmitry’s Ballroom dancing career began at the age of 12 in his hometown of Rostov–on-Don in Russia. He moved to the United States in 1999 and after studying both in America and the United Kingdom, he began representing the United States at many world famous ballroom competitions. Dmitry won many of titles, becoming a National Finalist in 2006, and ultimately a semi-finalist and finalist in prestigious International global competitions.

In 2006, Dmitry’s dance career took a different course.
He won a place on the FOX hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” and became one of America’s Top 10 dancers. He soon established himself as a favorite America and all around the World. This led to offers and invitations to choreograph and perform not only in the USA but many in Countries generating even more critical acclaim.

After a series of guest performances on “American Idol”, Dmitry was invited as a special guest to dance with Gloria Estefan on the phenomenal and EMMY winning episode “Idol Gives Back”. Numerous TV offers followed, leading to special guest appearances on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly, Larry King Live, KTLA news, The View and many more.

2009 was a milestone year for Dmitry when he choreographed an Argentine Tango on “So You Think You Can Dance”. This earned him an EMMY Nomination for best choreography. That same year, Dmitry also became Runner Up Champion in “Dancing With The Stars” with his partner Mya, receiving a record breaking number of votes making him one of the most popular dancers on the show.

Dmitry headlined the Vegas spectacular show “Dancing with The Stars – Live!” and during this time made frequent guest appearances on TV and choreographing on SYTYCD and Dancing With The Stars. He was invited to perform and guest teach at many prestigious conventions and industrials, which he still does today when he has time.

He was invited to headline the new live tour of “Ballroom With A Twist” and makes frequent appearances with them all over the United States.
2013, proved to be the next exciting stage in Dmitry’s career. He was not only invited to choreograph an entire episode of the FOX hit show “BONES” but seeing him work the Producers offered him the Guest Star roll of Kendrick Mantorov, the suspect, in the premier episode of the Season. It was the highest rating show of “Bones” that year.

Dmitry has been invited back to choreograph for the forthcoming seasons of “Dancing With The Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance”
At the start of 2014 Dmitry Guest Starred on the hit ABC Family show “Baby Daddy” where he played the role of Vladimir the Ballroom expert and once again choreographed the entire episode. In 2015 he Guest Starred on another ABC show “Manhattan Love Story” and later on the new Sharon Stone’s series “Agent X”. In 2017 he became the lead in a short film “That Look In Her Eyes” and landed another leading part in a feature film “Sangre Del Carmen” that’s in pre-production stages at this moment in time.

Balancing a career that combines acting, dancing, choreographing, teaching, personal appearances on TV, at events and conventions across America, Dmitry is in constant demand all around the world. His high profile TV appearances have made him a highly sought after personality and has become an inspiration and motivator to many young people and future stars who, through his example, are given hope that their dreams can become real.

www.lvphil.org/myroslava-khomik

Ukrainian-American violinist Myroslava (Mira) Khomik is a top-prize winner of international competitions including Remember Enescu Competition in Romania, Ugzhorod Silver Bells in Ukraine, and the New Names of Ukraine. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in Ukraine, Spain, US, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and her performances were broadcast on National TV and Radio in Ukraine, the US, and in Vietnam. Ms. Khomik is an avid promoter of contemporary composers, and regularly participates in premieres of new works. Most recent highlights include new premiere of the violin concerto by Ferran Sor with Orquestra de la Societat de Concerts de Barcelona, guest solo appearance and master classes at the 10mo. Festival Internacional de Musica y Musicologia in Mexico, and with the Kyiv Kamerata at the Gulfstream Festival in Ukraine, and completing a weeklong residency at UNASP in San Paolo, and at the Projeto Retreta, an outreach music program for the underprivileged children in Artur Nogueira, Brazil.

A devoted chamber music advocate, Ms. Khomik has performed alongside numerous distinguished artists at home and abroad, such as the members of the Borromeo and Jerusalem String Quartets, Robert Davidovichi, Eugene Friesen, Gloria Cheng, Guillaume Sutre, Movses Pogossian, Antonio Lysy, among others. She frequently appears in prestigious chamber music series such as Jacaranda, LACMA Sundays Live, HEAR NOW New Music Festival, NASUCA concert series in Los Angeles, and has appeared in concerts at the Incontri in Terra di Sienna Music (Italy), Academie de Musique de Lausanne (Switzerland), Aurora Music Festival (Sweden), and Zeist Music Days (Netherlands). Ms. Khomik recently received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also served as the Teaching Associate in the string department. She regularly performs with New West Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, and Divan Consort Ensemble in Los Angeles, and is an adjunct string faculty at Fullerton College and the French Conservatory in Beverly Hills.

Svetlana Smolina has performed with orchestras and in recital worldwide — including appearances with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, the Mariinsky Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, the Salzburg Festival at the Mozarteum, the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Ravinia’s Rising Stars in Chicago, the White Nights Festival in Saint Petersburg, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Mikkeli Festival in Finland, Ruhr Klavier Festival in Germany, the Moscow Easter Festival, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Stresa Festival, the Hanoi Opera House, London’s Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow, and Rome’s Accademia Santa Cecilia.

Her discography includes the solo album Romantic Journey and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra — both produced and recorded by Luca Rustici for L’n’R Productions/Universal Music. Other notable releases include a Chopin album for iTunes, a Scriabin project on Pentatone, a live concert recording with Christopher O’Riley in Montana, and a live Walt Disney Concert Hall performance for BCM+D Records. Her performances have been broadcast on NPR, WQXR, BBC, PBS, RAI, Kultura TV, and other major networks. Her recording of Stravinsky’s Les Noces with Valery Gergiev received an International Classical Music Award (ICMA).

Svetlana’s recent engagements include a tour of China with the Dublin Philharmonic and Derek Gleeson; concerts with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil in Lima, Peru; performances at Carnegie Hall in New York; duo concerts with violinist Lee-Chin Siow in Singapore; a recital with Charlie Siem at the Basel Casino; appearances at CCK Symphony Hall in Buenos Aires as part of the “Best Pianists of the 21st Century” series; the Classical Tahoe Festival with Maestro Joel Revzen; festivals in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Cremona, Italy.

She has collaborated in chamber music settings with Vadim Repin, Ida Haendel, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Kian Soltani, Geyhee Kim, Alexander Knyazev, Enrico Dindo, Lee-Chin Siow, Pavel Šporcl, Charlie Siem, Roberto Cani, Oleg Sendetsky, Kim Fisher, Julian Milkis, Dr. L. Subramaniam, and many others. With Vadim Repin, she has appeared in duo recitals at Teatro Colón in Bogotá for the Cartagena Festival, Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, the XXV Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival in Bangalore and Mumbai, Koerner Hall in Toronto, Salle Garnier de Monte-Carlo for Prince Albert’s Monaco Foundation, as well as at the Trans-Siberian Art Festival in Novosibirsk, and in Washington, D.C., London, and New York.

Her most recent invitations include New Year’s Eve Galas with the Shanghai Philharmonic and Harbin Symphony under Maestro Muhai Tang; a recital at the Taihu Art Festival / 22nd China Shanghai International Arts Festival at Wuxi Grand Theater; duo performances with Vadim Repin at NCPA Beijing, Shanghai Concert Hall, and the Shenzhen Concert Hall Belt & Road International Music Festival; debut solo recitals for the Dell’Arte Concert Series in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro; a concert in Osaka with Kazuhiro Takagi; recitals at Megaron Concert Hall in Thessaloniki with Jannis Georgiadis and at Megaron Chamber Hall in Athens for the Piano Plus Festival; appearances at the Burgos International Music Festival in Spain; the Triumph Music Festival / Kimmel Center Music Academy in Philadelphia; performances with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes; recitals in France at Château de Valençay; a performance at the White House in Leipzig; a concert recording for Steinway & Sons featuring the Lang Lang Black Diamond Limited Edition at Starý Kliž; a debut with the Symphony Orchestra of Athens at the Menandria Festival with Jannis Georgiadis and Christopher Miroshnikov; and an invitation to the Trans-Siberian Art Festival for chamber music recitals and performances with the Samara and Togliatti Philharmonic Orchestras with Vadim Repin and Alexander Ramm.

Svetlana is a frequent guest artist of the iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates, following her solo debut with the iPalpiti Orchestra and Maestro Eduard Schmieder at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where they recorded Britten’s Young Apollo to high critical acclaim.

She is the Grand Prix winner of Italy’s Città di Senigallia International Piano Competition, the Murray Dranoff Two-Piano Competition, and numerous other competitions. Since 2011, she has directed the piano program at the Philadelphia International Music Festival and serves on the piano faculty at Irvine Valley College and the London Performing Academy of Music.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tatiana Khmilinina earned her MFA in Environmental Design from the Academy of Art and Design; had participated in projects covering St. Petersburg’s historical center while working for St. Petersburg Institute of Design.

In 1991 she moved to Los Angeles, earned a certificate in multimedia design at UCLA and worked with many talented people, including Susan Summers. In 2007 she was hired by Farmers Insurance and is still working for this organization, where she has explored many different roles – as a web designer, visual/creative designer, UX designer. Tatiana’s art have been exhibited in various art shows in US, including 2004 Russian-American Art Exhibition II – Unity in Diversity, as well as in Russia and Hungary.

Tatiana was recognized by Congress of the United States and House of Representatives for her participation in 2nd Annual W Art Exhibition in 2011.

www.kevinloucks.com

Pianist Kevin Kwan Loucks enjoys a multifaceted career as international concert artist, educator, and arts entrepreneur. He has been described as “impeccable” (La Presse, Montreal), “a shining talent” (Völser Zeitung, Italy), and “a pianist of exhilarating polish, unity and engagement” (The Orange County Register, California). He has earned ovations from Weill Recital Hall and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, to Prösels Castle in Italy, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, Kumho Art Hall and Seoul Arts Center in South Korea, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and Prague’s Lichtenstein Palace. He has been featured on National Public Radio, CBC Radio 2, Classical KUSC, the Public Broadcasting Service, KABC-TV Los Angeles, and the Korean Broadcasting System, and was a top prize winner at the Schlern International Competition in Italy, the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition in Boston, the Beverly Hills International Auditions in Los Angeles, and the American Prize in Performance.

As a collaborative artist, Kevin Kwan Loucks has appeared in recitals with Rachel Barton Pine, Colin Carr, Paul Coletti, Robert deMaine, Glenn Dicterow, Karen Dreyfus, Eugene Drucker, Edgar Meyer, Johannes Moser, Kyung Sun Lee, and Carol Wincenc. He has been featured in collaborations with the Afiara, Argus, Arneis, Cecilia, Jupiter, Lyris, and Rus String Quartets, and has performed and recorded as a member of Gruppo Montebello, an all-star ensemble of acclaimed Banff Centre resident artists based in Canada. Loucks has performed hundreds of recitals throughout North America, Europe, and Asia with his wife, violinist Iryna Krechkovsky, as part of the award-winning Krechkovsky/Loucks Duo. In 2012, the Duo formed Trio Céleste with cellist Ross Gasworth and served as Ensemble-in-Residence at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine where they also directed the annual Trio Céleste Summer Chamber Music Festival.
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A Korean-American adoptee and graduate of The Juilliard School in New York City, Kevin Kwan Loucks was mentored by pianist Julian Martin. He is an alumnus of programs at the Aspen Music Festival and Music@Menlo, and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University where he served as Head of Piano for the Pre-College Division and Teaching Assistant for the Emerson String Quartet. He is Co-Founder of Chamber Music | OC, which earned him recognition from Orange County Business Journal and OC Weekly who named him one of Southern California’s most influential people. He is currently Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and previously served as Director of Innovation and Program Development at the Music Academy of the West. In addition to his artistic training, Loucks holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University where he studied entrepreneurship, finance, management, and strategy. He completed his Executive Education at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Farida Goychayeva – Professor of Slavic Languages at Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA  – holds Master’s of Arts in Education, Master’s of Arts in Linguistics and Master’s of Arts in TEFL.
She developed a new approach to foreign language teaching which she applies successfully in her classroom.

In 2000 Farida organized and taught ESL classes for low income  immigrant families. 
While teaching ESL in Jewish Family Services, she organized an ESL theater for her students.
Farida also has a degree in music. As a singer, a pianist and a composer, she has been an active performer with the Ethnic Heritage Council of Seattle and Cantorei choir in Bellevue, WA for many years. Farida and her students also participated in many  international festivals held in Seattle.

She was a founder and director of “Carabaras” musical theater that was staging musicals in English and Russian languages authored by Farida. In 2010 her theater received a Diploma from the American Association for Russian Language Culture and Education and Embassy of the Russian Federation to the United States of America.
In 2012 Farida organized and directed a 6-hour long international musical charity marathon “Tanzania in My Heart”.

As a composer, Farida wrote music to classical poetry in 9 languages: English, German, French, Russian, Turkish, Azeri, Spanish, Italian, and Polish.
She also translates poetry from English, German, Russian, and Azeri languages.
Farida also wrote 3 song books for children in English, Russian, and German.
Her book of English songs for children is popular and widely used by English teachers in Israel.