Hi! I’m Laura.

I’ve been an adventurer all my life. It has brought me from the slot canyons of Southern Utah, to the cobblestoned streets of Bulgaria, to the chimney-peaked rock formations of Cappadocia, to the magic towns of Mexico.

Studying the violin as a young girl, I formed a fascination with Romani and Balkan music. After earning a Bachelor of the Arts degree from Rice University, a Master’s in Music from Ohio University and a Master’s Degree in Multi-Focus Performance from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, CA, this curiosity developed into a year long adventure abroad in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where I lived for one year supported by a Fulbright scholarship, performing and immersing myself in Eastern European music, dance, and culture. In Plovdiv, I studied at the Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts (AMDFA) with Todor Kirov (folkloric gadulka and Bulgarian ornament and regional style on the violin) and Svetla Kaludova-Stanilova. I also performed in the AMDFA Folk Orchestra under Milcho Vasilev and Vladimir Vladimirov, a conductor and world recognized tambura player.

While abroad I traveled to Turkey, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia. I performed at Umefolk (one of the largest folk music festivals in Europe) with the Plovidiv Academy Folk Music Orchestra and with folk violinist and good friend Sofia Högstadius. After my year abroad (2010-’11), I returned in 2013 to Turkey, Moldova and Bulgaria. I spent three months learning Turkish Romani music and dance in Istanbul, then Moldovan and Romanian folk music tunes and ornamental style with lautari violinist extraordinaire, Marin Bunea in Chisenau, Moldova, and participated in the Rila Folk Music Festival in Rila, Bulgaria.

Prior to my time in CA, I performed professionally with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra from 2006-2008. I also spent time teaching, gigging, and playing professionally in Los Angeles, California. I was fortunate to coach, teach, and work with students at the Harmony Project Los Angeles. Recent performances include work with Mason Bates and Mercury Soul at the Argyos Performing Arts Center in Sun Valley and at the World Village Fest in 2019 with cimbalomist Igor Iachimciuc. I currently reside in Boise, Idaho and teach junior high students at Riverstone International School.

Besides my specialization in violin performance and speciality in Eastern European folk music, I also play and teach piano lessons, coach young musicians, and have experience as a vocalist.

If you are interested in learning more about private music instruction on the violin or piano, please contact me for availability and pricing!

Laura  

This image was taken during my first month living abroad in Bulgaria.