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."
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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. |