Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Korableva.
Elena, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a cellist who was born in a beautiful city Kazan, Russia. I started playing the cello when I was 11 years old. I moved to Moscow to continue my musical journey with the wonderful teacher Maria Zhuravleva. In 2007 I came to The United States to study at the Boston Conservatory with Andrew Mark and Mihail Jojatu. (BM in Cello Performance) In 2012 I moved to Michigan to obtain Master’s degree at Michigan State University and study with renown Suren Bagratuni where I also was his teaching assistant.
After completing my studies there I decided to return and settle down in Boston. I have a very busy and exciting life here in Boston, playing various gigs and teaching kids 4 years old and up. My recent performances include a debut at prestigious Carnegie Hall as a first prize winner of an International Competition of Romantic Music the American Protege. I also recently played with 2CELLOS, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Michael Buble and Celtic Thunder. I play with Chamber Music Foundation of New England. I attended Apple Hill Center of Chamber Music in New Hampshire and Global Musician Workshop by Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble in Indiana in the summer. I play with Amarantos Quartet in Portland, ME and pianists Sivan Etedgee and Laura Villafranca.
Back in Russia as a member of a String Quartet I won two prestigious International Competitions and toured in Germany and Austria, I also performed in Italy in the summer of 2010. I compose music based on Tatar Folk songs and would like to introduce the enchanting Tatar music to the bigger audiences. In my free time, I like to draw and dance.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think it is never a smooth road for an Artist. I definitely had more “noes” than “yeses”. Especially it was hard coming to a different country to pursue my dreams. I miss my family a lot! But challenges make it more fun! And I appreciate victories more after challenges.
My childhood, teenage years were all about the cello, so I missed other things. I needed to make sacrifices but I always enjoyed playing, practicing my cello. Although now I am catching up on movies and books that I didn’t have time to see and read. Just read Harry Potter for the first time a month ago.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Elena Korableva story. Tell us more about the business.
I teach kids privately. I combine American and Russian Schools of Cello playing. I pay a lot of attention to a good posture and free, healthy, natural movements in the body. It is very important for me to keep children’s interest in music, to make them feel that playing cello is easy and fun.
I work with a lot of very young kids, 4, 5, 6, years old and that is challenging but I love it. I teach them through games and compose songs for them. I carefully pick music that develops good technique and musicality. I take an individual approach to each kid. Some of my older students are playing in local youth orchestras. I believe that music lessons help to be more creative, focused, aware, goal-oriented and disciplined.
I also perform in different genres and styles, in various venues in MA, CT, ME, NY, NH, RI. I compose and improvise. It is very important to me to have a good balance of performing and teaching in my life. Because both businesses nurture one another.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I hope to grow my cello studio, make a video and audio recordings of my music and have more exciting projects and performances in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elenakorableva.com/bio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elena.cello/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicyacht/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CqFlRfZ_Is
Image Credit:
Darian Nguyen, Alexey Eliseev, Elan Asch
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