I started playing the violin when I was 6 years old, and thereafter had the great fortune of completing 12 years of musical studies at the prestigious George Enescu School of Music in my native city, Bucharest, Romania. After moving to Canada in 1991, I began teaching violin and piano at the International Conservatory of Music, while completing my Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance at the University of Toronto.
After completing my university studies, my love for music and passion for teaching led me to open my own private violin studio. Since 1997, I have had the great honour and privilege of instructing hundreds of students, kids and adults of all ages and levels, preparing them for Royal Conservatory of Music examinations, University entry auditions, Kiwanis Music Festivals, or simply for the joy of learning to play the violin as a hobby.
As a coach, I have worked with the string sections of the Thunder Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra and the Junior Thirteen Strings Orchestra. I have also adjudicated for the Kiwanis Music Festival, and since 2012 I have been one of the string coaches on faculty for the strings chamber music ensembles of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy Summer Camp.
I am currently a member of the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, with whom I have been performing for the past 18 years. I have also played with Romanian Radio National Symphony Orchestra, European Symphony Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony, Kingston Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau, The Ottawa Baroque Consort, Ottawa Symphony and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
Over the years I have had the immense pleasure and joy of being on stage with some of the most illustrious violinists and artists of our time: Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman, Angela Hewitt, Yefim Bronfman, Ben Heppner, James Ehnes, Leila Josefowicz, Nicola Benedetti, Tessa Lark, Lara St. John, Natalie MacMaster, to name a few.
Fun fact, during my career I have also shared the stage with the legendary Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, performed on popular Broadway musicals such as ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’, and even played back up for pop entertainers like Bryan Adams, Blue Rodeo, Il Divo, Kanye West and the Eagles!
My long professional performance history in the music industry deeply informs my teaching.
Being on stage is thrilling!
However, my deepest passion lies in working with students of all ages, diverse learning interests and ability levels, to reach their own musical goals. My aim is to inspire, guide, encourage and help you develop your own musical style by learning pieces of music of your own choosing.
There is no greater reward for me as a teacher, than seeing you light up with excitement, as you gain better understanding and control of the violin, and develop a greater sense of confidence in your playing.
Are you a beginner? Or maybe you need help learning a new piece? Would you like to play with more ease? Improve your technique? Be able to be more expressive musically? Experience more joy in your practice?