Gulia Gurevich

Violin, Viola, Piano, Suzuki and Chamber Music

 Gulia is a violinist and a violist of the Prima Trio, a mixed ensemble which had won a Grand Prix at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Gulia has since enjoyed fourteen seasons with the trio and have performed all across  the US, as well as abroad. In the past, Gulia was invited to be on the chamber music jury panel of the International Young Pianist Competition in Villahermosa, Mexico and was invited to be on a jury of the upcoming Braga International Violin competition in Portugal and Irvine Conservatory Music Competition. A saught-after pedagogue, Gulia Gurevich has taught masterclasses at the Oberlin Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, and others.

Gulia Gurevich received her Diploma from Indiana University,  her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory and just completed  her MM/DMA degree at University of California in Santa Barbara. 

Dr. Gurevich is a cofounder of the Nelli Shkolnikova Academy in France and runs a chamber music festival, a concert series and owns a music school in the Los  Angeles area.

Alexander Gurevich

Violin, Viola, Music Theory and Chamber Music

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Alexander moved to the Unites States with his family in March of 1991. After completing his studies at Manhattan School of Music in New York Mr. Gurevich moved to California to continue his education at the University of California, Santa Barbara and University of Southern California. During next ten years Alexander performed in the viola sections of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony, San Diego Symphony among many others.  Some of his chamber music experiences included performances at Umbria Segreta Concerts at Spoleto, Italy and inaugural French-American quartet festival with USC and Paris Conservatory at Chateau de la Bretesche, Missillac, France, as well as a finalist at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition.

 Alexander performed at Kneisel Hall, Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West and Schlezwig-Holstein Music Festivals. His principal teachers in the United States were Donald McInnes, Heijchiro Ohyama, Daniel Avshalomov and Albert Markov. Alexander joined the staff of the New West Symphony Orchestra in Thousand Oaks, where he currently resides with his wife and musical partner violinist Gulia Gurevich and two daughters - Renata and Simona. 

Elena Kovaleva

Violin and Piano

Elena Kovaleva is a seasoned music educator with over 27 years of dedicated experience in the field of music education, specializing in violin instruction. Currently based in Los Angeles, CA, Elena has cultivated a rich and diverse career that spans continents and includes a multitude of teaching environments.

Elena’s journey in music began in Russia, where she earned her degree in violin from the prestigious Saratov Conservatory. This institution is renowned for its rigorous training programs and has produced many distinguished musicians. Her education at Saratov Conservatory equipped her with a deep understanding of both the technical and expressive aspects of violin performance, as well as a comprehensive knowledge of music theory and pedagogy. Following her graduation, Elena embarked on a professional teaching career that has seen her impart her extensive knowledge to a wide range of students. For the past 7 years, she has been a prominent music educator in Moscow, where she provided instruction not only in violin but also in piano, music theory, and solfege. Her time in Moscow allowed her to refine her teaching methods and develop a unique approach to music education that caters to the individual needs of each student.

Elena’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student has the potential to excel in music, regardless of their initial skill level. She is known for her patience, dedication, and ability to create a supportive and encouraging learning environment. Her personalized teaching methods are designed to foster a deep appreciation for music and to help students build confidence in their abilities. 

Now based in Los Angeles, Elena continues to inspire and mentor aspiring musicians. Her move to the United States has opened new opportunities for her to share her expertise with a diverse student population. Elena’s extensive experience and unwavering commitment to music education make her a highly respected and sought-after instructor in the Los Angeles area.

Anna Kovaleva

Piano and Collaborative Piano

Anna Kovaleva   is a distinguished music instructor with a profound expertise in piano and over five years of dedicated teaching experience. Currently, she is completing her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she has honed her skills under the tutelage of esteemed faculty members.

Anna’s foundational education in music was built at the prestigious Gnesin Music College in Moscow, Russia, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Accompaniment. This rigorous training provided her with a comprehensive understanding of music, enabling her to excel not only as a performer but also as an educator and accompanist. Her approach to teaching is characterized by a blend of technical precision and expressive artistry, fostering both the technical and emotional development of her students. Anna is known for her ability to adapt her teaching methods to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring that they reach their full potential.

In addition to her extensive teaching roles, Anna is a laureate of several international music competitions, which have taken her to various prestigious venues around the world. Her performances have been lauded for their technical excellence and emotional depth, earning her a reputation as a pianist of remarkable talent. 

Britta Thomas

Cello and Chamber Music

Britta Thomas is a distinguished cellist originally from Western Montana. She was introduced to the cello as a fifth grader through the public school system. It wasn’t until college that she first received private lessons and was inspired to follow her dreams of becoming a professional musician. Her unorthodox introduction to music showed her the transformative power of accessible musical opportunities and instilled a deep commitment towards making music education attainable and inclusive for all.

Britta earned a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Montana while studying under Professor Fern Glass Boyd. She was the recipient of several scholarships and awards, including the Lorraine Andre Prize for Musical Excellence. Upon graduating, she attended the University of California Santa Barbara where she received her master’s.

 While at UCSB, she has been awarded numerous fellowships and is currently a member of the prestigious Young Artist’s String Trio. While Britta has a profound love for classical music, she also has a diversified musical palate. She performs with folk bands and loves to compose original music and lyrics. 

 Teaching is at the heart of Britta’s musical interests. She believes in the power of music to foster self-expression, emotional depth, and personal growth. 

Looking to the future, Britta aspires to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to a group learning environment. Outside of music, Britta has a passion for exploring literature and writing short stories and poetry. She received a Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Culture. A dedicated animal lover, she is devoted to her dog, Tilda, and cat, Anaheim. She is an avid explorer of the National Parks or loves creating new cupcake recipes.

Brandon Zhou

Piano and Music Composition

Pianist and composer Brandon Zhou is an LA-based soloist and chamber musician with a broad range of musical interests spanning from traditional classical repertoire to works by living composers and his own arrangements. 

As a pianist, he has performed with acclaimed musicians such as Hilá Plitmann and Tony Arnold and with organizations such as American Contemporary Ballet and Jacaranda Music. His playing can be heard in filmmaker Kerry Candaele’s documentary Love and Justice.

As the winner of the 2020 Atwater Kent Concerto Competition, his performance of Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto with the UCLA Philharmonic in 2021 was met with an enthusiastic reception. Recent performances include a benefit concert with flutist Anastasia

Petanova in Madison, WI in collaboration with Friends of Be an Angel, a charity dedicated to supporting Ukrainian refugees, and a program of chamber works by members of the 20th  century St. Petersburg Society for Jewish Folk Music at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA.

Additionally, Brandon’s solo and chamber compositions have been performed as part of events across the U.S. His arrangement of Saint-Saëns’ ‘Egyptian’ Concerto for piano and string quartet was premiered to great acclaim by Inna Faliks and the Lyris Quartet at Jacaranda Music in May 2023, and his often-performed duo Three Blues Miniatures was most recently performed at the

Thurnauer Chamber Music Series and Moab Music Festival. 

Brandon earned his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where he studied with Inna Faliks. Additionally, he has been a longtime student of composer Richard Danielpour. He currently serves as a coach and collaborative pianist at Mount Saint

Mary’s University, organist at Panorama Presbyterian Church, and collaborative pianist at UCLA.

Eumi Chung

Violin, Viola, Piano and Cello

Eumi developed a love for music when she was introduced to the violin at age seven. She was raised on the Suzuki method and continues to promote this method in her teaching. Eumi received her Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance from Kyunghee University, College of Music, where she studied violin with Professor Bomi Moon (a former student of Dorothy DeLay at Julliard). She was named the Concertmaster of the Gwacheon Youth Symphony and Kyunghee Chamber Orchestra for 4 years while in school. She has also performed with many ensembles including Southern California Philharmonic Orchestra, LA Sinfonietta, Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, Newark Symphony Orchestra as well as quartets and trios.

She taught private violin/viola lessons through a multifaceted arts and community center in LA, Pennsylvania, Delaware and S. Korea for over 20 years.  Presently, Eumi continues to teach violin and viola and performs with Westlake Village Symphony. She offers violin/viola lessons to students of all ages and levels and she adapts her approach of teaching according to the student’s needs. She truly enjoys guiding the students to develop their skills and a love for music along the way.