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Pittsburgh Musicians
Charlie Alves, Viola
Currently based in Pittsburgh, Charlie enjoys a career as a freelance musician and music teacher. He studied music and international Affairs at Florida State University and got his Master of Music in Viola Performance at Penn State University. He then went on to study at Carnegie Mellon University as an Advanced Music Studies student. He has attended a number of summer festivals such as National Repertory Orchestra and Endless Mountain Music Festival, and has regularly played in orchestras throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. He has also performed on stage with world-renowned musicians such as Josh Groban and Il Volo. When he is not performing, Charlie enjoys teaching private lessons to string players of all ages in his studio.
Elise Feagley, Cello
Elise Feagley is a cellist and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Cello Performance and a certification in Music Education. She frequently performs throughout the Pittsburgh region with many orchestras, theater companies, and chamber ensembles.
Feagley runs her own private studio in Pittsburgh (Elise Feagley Cello Studio) teaching cello students of all ages. She teaches lessons and group classes using the Suzuki Method of instruction, after pursuing training at many institutes around the country.
Elise is passionate about making the arts accessible to all people. She desires to instill a love of music and beauty into all of her students and aspires to motivate audiences to pursue art in all its forms.
Elise and her husband, Jordan, have two daughters who love music like their mom.
Feagley runs her own private studio in Pittsburgh (Elise Feagley Cello Studio) teaching cello students of all ages. She teaches lessons and group classes using the Suzuki Method of instruction, after pursuing training at many institutes around the country.
Elise is passionate about making the arts accessible to all people. She desires to instill a love of music and beauty into all of her students and aspires to motivate audiences to pursue art in all its forms.
Elise and her husband, Jordan, have two daughters who love music like their mom.
Mikylah Myers, Violin
Violinist Mikylah Myers has loved performing at weddings since her graduate student days in Houston, Texas, where she played at lavish celebrations in grand ballrooms as part of a big band orchestra and at intimate ceremonies in private homes as a solo
violinist. Now based in Pittsburgh, PA, Mikylah brings a vast performance experience to a wide range of concert stages. She has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, Austria,
Slovakia, Hungary, and Spain. And she enjoys stepping off the concert stage and into the rock & roll arena, performing with the Eagles, Michael Bublé, Warren Haynes, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Mikylah received the doctoral and master’s degrees in violin performance from the
University of Houston and earned the bachelor of music degree in violin performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. In addition to her musical studies, Mikylah was a four-year-member and co-captain of the Oberlin College women’s soccer team. Mikylah is the Associate Dean of Research and Creative Activity at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media. She is always happy to perform “Country Roads” as part of any wedding playlist.
violinist. Now based in Pittsburgh, PA, Mikylah brings a vast performance experience to a wide range of concert stages. She has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, Austria,
Slovakia, Hungary, and Spain. And she enjoys stepping off the concert stage and into the rock & roll arena, performing with the Eagles, Michael Bublé, Warren Haynes, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Mikylah received the doctoral and master’s degrees in violin performance from the
University of Houston and earned the bachelor of music degree in violin performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. In addition to her musical studies, Mikylah was a four-year-member and co-captain of the Oberlin College women’s soccer team. Mikylah is the Associate Dean of Research and Creative Activity at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media. She is always happy to perform “Country Roads” as part of any wedding playlist.
Olga Taimanov, Viola
Olga Taimanov began her musical studies on violin and viola as a native of Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she attended the Special Music School for Gifted Children.She has a Master of Music degree from the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, Russia and an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ms.Taimanov has held numerous orchestra positions in Russia and Israel, including Principal Violist of both the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra “Mozarteum”and State Symphony Orchestra “Klassika”, and Associate Principal Viola of the Israel Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Taimanov also performed with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as an associated member under world famed conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Yuri Temirkanov, Lorin Mazel, Mariss Jansons and many others.
Ms. Taimanov has extensive chamber music experience and has performed at international chamber music festivals in Israel, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.
After coming to the United States. Ms. Taimanov’s piano trio won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Competition in 2001. In 2002 she was nominated for the National All-American Scholar Collegiate Award.
As a resident of Pittsburgh, Ms.Taimanov has performed extensively with the Pittsburgh Opera and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She was a member of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and Associate member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio State. Currently Ms. Taimanov devotes the majority of her time teaching violin and viola students and being a freelance musician for a numerous of entertainment agencies such as Fever, Listesso Music Group, Loyalty Entertainment , Arev Music Entertainment , and many more.
Ms.Taimanov is a faculty member of International Music Festival “Interharmony”, Music Extension program at Carnegie Mellon University and Preparatory School of Music as well as Johnstonbaugh’s Music center, the positions she has held since 2005.
Ms.Taimanov has held numerous orchestra positions in Russia and Israel, including Principal Violist of both the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra “Mozarteum”and State Symphony Orchestra “Klassika”, and Associate Principal Viola of the Israel Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Taimanov also performed with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as an associated member under world famed conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Yuri Temirkanov, Lorin Mazel, Mariss Jansons and many others.
Ms. Taimanov has extensive chamber music experience and has performed at international chamber music festivals in Israel, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.
After coming to the United States. Ms. Taimanov’s piano trio won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Competition in 2001. In 2002 she was nominated for the National All-American Scholar Collegiate Award.
As a resident of Pittsburgh, Ms.Taimanov has performed extensively with the Pittsburgh Opera and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She was a member of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and Associate member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio State. Currently Ms. Taimanov devotes the majority of her time teaching violin and viola students and being a freelance musician for a numerous of entertainment agencies such as Fever, Listesso Music Group, Loyalty Entertainment , Arev Music Entertainment , and many more.
Ms.Taimanov is a faculty member of International Music Festival “Interharmony”, Music Extension program at Carnegie Mellon University and Preparatory School of Music as well as Johnstonbaugh’s Music center, the positions she has held since 2005.
Ruth Hartmann, Cello
Ruth Hartmann is a cellist and graduate of West Virginia University for her Bachelor of Arts in Music. She is an avid orchestral musician with experience playing in various local orchestras in the Pittsburgh and Morgantown areas, including the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Symphony Orchestra. She has spent many summers playing in the Brevard Summer Music Festival, where she has broadened her orchestral and solo repertoire. Ruth also has a special affinity for Baroque music and chamber music, and especially seeks out opportunities to perform in these genres.
Between undergraduate and graduate degrees, Ruth enjoys working in various fields and gaining any experience to learn where she can. She enjoys freelancing, teaching, and working in administrative positions. While she continues to pursue her music studies, Ruth also has many passions outside of the field. She can be found hiking, traveling, and exploring for new coffee shops wherever she goes.
Between undergraduate and graduate degrees, Ruth enjoys working in various fields and gaining any experience to learn where she can. She enjoys freelancing, teaching, and working in administrative positions. While she continues to pursue her music studies, Ruth also has many passions outside of the field. She can be found hiking, traveling, and exploring for new coffee shops wherever she goes.
Stevie Zitkovich, Cello
Stevie a professional cellist based in Pittsburgh, PA. They earned their Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Performance from Youngstown State University in 2015 and 2019, respectively. Previous teachers include Michael Gelfand, 3-time Grammy winner Zuill Bailey, and internationally renowned cellist, Kivie Cahn-Lipman. She has previously performed with the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra (PA), Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Opera Circle Cleveland, Butler County Symphony Orchestra, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, and internationally with Orquestra Sinfonica de la Universidad Autonoma de Cuidad Juarez of Juarez, Mexico. Stevie also performed alongside popular and classical artists such as Phil Keaggy, Earth Wind and Fire, Josh Groban, Hanson, Yo-Yo Ma, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Sarah Brightman, Disturbed, and Michael Buble. They have also recorded as a soloist for several local artists in northeast Ohio, and recorded for Chloe x Halle for their rendition of America the Beautiful during Superbowl LIII (2019). She has taught private lessons for 5 years with students ranging in age from 8 to 65, across all playing levels. When Stevie isn't performing, she teaches and practices yoga, enjoys cooking a variety of cuisines, tends to her 120+ house plants, and spends time with her two Shiba Inu pups, Misha and Koda.
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