Varsha Saxena

Varsha Saxena, a second generation East Indian American who has been playing piano since the age of 10. In Hindi,  my name means “tiny raindrops,” an apt description of my unique style. I have been influenced by my family’s traditional culture and inspired by the legendary Horowitz and George Winston, my intimate connection with my instrument seems a vehicle through which my spirituality is expressed. I freely draw on my family’s traditional cultural background in my improvisational creations, taking the listener down a musically visual path through many moods and emotions. I have two CDs currently available for sale one is called "After the Storm" and the other is called "Piano Dreams."

Ieva Kristine

Music has been a strong influence and compelling activity for Ieva Kristine Hebert from  a very young age.  She was brought up in the  Latvian community in the SF Bay Area which is rich in culture, song and dance. Growing up in Palo Alto, she  began her piano study at age seven and flute at age nine.  She played in  Youth Orchestras in the area  and also in PACO,  often the winner of concerto competitions. She completed a double major in Music Performance and  Education from Biola University and went on for her Master’s in Flute  Performance at the University of Southern California.  Here she studied with Roger  Stevens and in the Bay Area with  Frances Blaisedell and Patti Waters.   She was a member of the Rome Festival Orchestra and  has participated in Master Classes in Ireland and England with James Galway.
  Kristine performs in the bay area as a soloist and also in small chamber  music ensembles. 
She is a member  of Trio con Brio, comprised of flute, cello and piano. Currently Kristine
 continues teaching privately in her music studio at home and also teaches music  in the Palo Alto Unified School District.  She believes every child benefits from the exposure, understanding, and experience of music in their lives. She has often worked with students with various disabilities and says one of the greatest joys is seeing their faces break into smiles as  they create music and expression. "It is beyond words and this is the wide expanse of emotion and communication that is possible with music.“  She has raised and is still raising four boys.  The youngest, Markus, has a song titled  in his special honor Varsha and  Kristine began to work together in improvisation when they met in Markus’ classroom when Varsha was the substitute teacher. Kristine joins Varsha on her CD, Piano Dreams, which is comprised of spontaneous musical expressiveness and improvisation.