Galina Gershteyn, Concertmistress

Originally from Astrakhan, Russia, Galina began her musical studies at the age of six. She received top places in city and regional violin competitions throughout the elementary school years and performed with the Professional Youth Violin Ensemble in her city. Galina continued her musical activities as a solo, chamber, and orchestral violinist in Washington State upon immigration to the USA. She performed with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics orchestra, MENC All-Northwest, WMEA All-State, and Clark College orchestras. Her high school quartet won the regional WA State Solo and Ensemble competition three years in a row and participated in master classes with the Takács Quartet, Miró Quartet, and the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. As a soloist, Galina performed extensively at church and school events, and regional solo competitions. Galina received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Puget Sound from which she holds a Bachelors of Music degree in violin performance. The highlights of her undergraduate years were working with Maria Sampen, holding principal positions in the university's orchestras, and studying for a semester in Vienna, Austria. Galina has a Masters of Music in violin performance from the Longy School of Music where she studied with Valeria Kuchment and Malcolm Lowe, both violinists of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. While at Longy, she participated in Longitude, the school’s new music ensemble and performed in the Longy Chamber Music Honors Concert. Currently, Galina is a member of the Waltham Symphony Orchestra and the Freisinger Chamber Orchestra. In addition to performing and freelancing in the Boston metro area, she maintains a private violin and piano studio and teaches at the MJ's Music School.

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