Mariya, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, grew up in a family of
musicians. Mariya
began studying violin at age 8 with professor Polonskaya at the Music
Academy no. 16 of St. Petersburg. Upon graduation she began taking lessons
with Vladimir Gentselt of St. Petersburg Philarmonic. Potapova moved to the United States in 1999,
where she started studying with world-renown professor Vadim Voyler.During that time Mariya became
a member of Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra; had won two first place
awards in instrumental competitions, and participated in All State
Orchestra.In 2006 she had taken the first
place in Blue Ridge Concerto Competition and performed with Blue Ridge Civic
Orchestra.Currently Mariya holds two BA
degrees from University of North Carolina, Asheville in Psychology and
Music. She is a member of Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Hendersonville
Symphony, and Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport, TN.
Paul Stroebel: Violinist
Paul
is from
Augusta, GA,
where he studied the Suzuki Violin Method from the age of three until graduating
high school
from Davidson Fine Arts. At Davidson, he was concertmaster of the Chamber
Orchestra and led various string quartets,
playing for weddings, banquets, and chamber concerts. Paul plays fiddle and
sings in the bluegrass band Bear Down Easy and also sits in regularly with
jazz and rock bands. He graduated from UNCA's Music Technology program in
2008 with distinction and plays with the Asheville Symphony, Brevard
Philharmonic, Hendersonville Symphony, and Blue Ridge Orchestra.
Kara Poorbaugh: Violist
and Violinist
Kara
serves as Principal Violist of the Asheville & Hendersonville Symphonies and
as violist of Bellacorda and the Opal String Quartet. She is a graduate of
the Eastman School of Music (BM-viola performance and music education),
where she studied with John Graham and the Ying Quartet. Kara also performs
regularly with the Greenville Symphony, and is a faculty member of the
Joyful Noise Community Music and Arts Center, where she teaches viola &
violin, and chamber music. Kara has been featured as a soloist with the Blue
Ridge Orchestra, Raleigh Symphony, Triangle Youth Philharmonic, and Duke
University String School Orchestra and has attended summer festivals at
Interlochen, Musicorda, Eastern Music Festival, and Brevard Music Center.
Ryan Kelly: Cellist
Ryan began
her career as a cellist at the age of 10, and has grown to become a
passionate lover of music and fine arts. She has contributed her talents to
such places as the Johnson City Symphony and the Blue Ridge Orchestra.
At UNCA, she is pursuing a degree in cellular and molecular biology for
medical research with plants.
Elena Saladukha: Pianist
Elena Saladukha
was born in Minsk, Belarus. She began to play piano at the age of seven at
the Philharmonic Music School of Aleksandrov where she studied with
Professor Kulikovskaya. Upon her graduation with honors she continued taking
private lessons and becoming more advanced in her technique, while also
concentrating on studies in Economics and becoming admitted as a student to
one of the best Universities of Belarus at the age of sixteen. A year later
she moved to the United States, where she began a new chapter in her piano
career by becoming a student of a world-renowned professor Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim
at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Currently Saladukha holds
two Bachelor degrees in Economics and Mathematics and is continuing her
education by working to become a Certified Public Accountant. In the past
few years Saladukha has performed numerous solo recitals as well as
participated in recent performances with UNCA Concert Band under the
direction of Dr. John Entzi. Saladukha has recorded several CD’s including
solo works for piano, duets for violin and piano and accompaniment for
mezzo-soprano Theresa Veach. Currently Elena gives private piano lessons at
her home studio in Asheville, and has students that have won prizes on
Asheville Area Piano Forum Competition.
Mariya, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, grew up in a family of
musicians. Mariya
began studying violin at age 8 with professor Polonskaya at the Music
Academy no. 16 of St. Petersburg. Upon graduation she began taking lessons
with Vladimir Gentselt of St. Petersburg Philarmonic.
Ryan began
her career as a cellist at the age of 10, and has grown to become a
passionate lover of music and fine arts. She has contributed her talents to
such places as the Johnson City Symphony and the Blue Ridge Orchestra.
At UNCA, she is pursuing a degree in cellular and molecular biology for
medical research with plants.