Violin & Viola Faculty
Narain Darakananda
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A native of San Francisco, Narain Darakananda began his violin studies at age 7 with LynnOakley at the Villa Sinfonia Foundation. Though he enjoyed performing, Narain soon discovered that his true passion was teaching. He began teaching violin privately at age 14 and began coaching string quartets at age 16. Some of his students went on to play in CODA All-State Orchestras and at the San Francisco Conservatory Preparatory Division.
He would go on to receive his BA in music and psychology at Bard College where he studied privately with Erica Kiesewetter. At Bard, he became concertmaster of the Bard College Community Orchestra and the Bard College Baroque Ensemble. He was also a member of the Bard Conservatory Orchestra, once performing as principle second violin. In 2020 he was also a member of the Bard Philharmonic, touring with Tan Dun to China. During his undergraduate years he attended Roundtop Festival (2018) as well as Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival (2020) where he received masterclasses from Tomas Cotik and Lucie Roberts. Pursuing his passion for teaching, he also attended the Starling-DeLay Violin Symposium in 2019. Narain is now in San Francisco, pursuing his masters in violin performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying with Kay Stern. He is excited to start his performance and teaching careers here in the Bay Area. When he is not teaching, practicing, or performing, Narain enjoys quiet time at home cooking with his fiancée and their cat. |
Xiaomeng Ma
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Xiaomeng Ma was born in China and began to learn violin at the age of 7. She enjoys teaching as well as performing. Since September 2016, she has taught more than 20 students over the course of 6 years. She is also a member of ASTA (American Strings Teachers Association) in 2020. She has studied in professional music high school and music conservatories in China and currently, she just graduated with a master degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and study with Joseph Maile, while at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she also studied the Suzuki pedagogy and Alexander technique.
She has received coachings and masterclasses from many renowned musicians, notably Shlomo Mintz, Zhou Qian, Ariadne Daskalakis. And she has participated in many violin solo competitions during 2016-2019 and won prizes such as Asian Music Competition, Xi 'an International Youth Competition. Her teaching style is positive and effective, adhering to the concept of happy learning. It is important that knowledge accompanies the skill, enabling independent artistic thought and aesthetic values. In doing so, a child gains an important foundation upon which they can develop. |
Barbara Schaefer
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Barbara began Suzuki violin lessons at the age of five at her local elementary school and decided soon after that music would be her life’s passion. A native Texan, Barbara holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
As a professional orchestral musician, she performs actively with many Bay Area ensembles and is a member of the Fresno Philharmonic and the Santa Rosa Symphony. Barbara began her pedagogy studies with Mimi Zweig and Brenda Brenner at the Indiana University String Academy. While at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she also studied the Paul Rolland method, the Orff Approach, and Alexander technique. Barbara received her registered Suzuki training from David Strom and Ann Montzka Smelser. Barbara fosters a collaborative approach, where the student is involved in the learning process and is able to become self aware and independent in their practicing and performing. Her teaching philosophy is to develop a solid technical foundation through a well-balanced body, with fluid movements to create ease of playing without tension. An avid baker, she enjoys sharing her scones, cakes, and other creations with friends and family. |
Sarah Biagini
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Sarah is a recent graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received both her Master of Music as well as her Bachelor of Music degrees in violin performance, both studying with Joan Kwuon. She has received coachings and masterclasses from many renowned musicians, notably the Cavani Quartet, Peter Salaff, Keith Robinson, the Dover Quartet, and the Juilliard Quartet. An avid chamber player as well as orchestral player, she has played with orchestras such as the Erie Philharmonic, Canton Symphony, the Cleveland Opera Theatre, and the inaugural Cuban American Youth Orchestra. In the fall of 2021, she will be participating in the San Francisco Academy Orchestra.
A native of California, Sarah was born and raised in Los Angeles and has been surrounded by musicians her whole life. With both her parents and her brother playing the cello, Sarah has always found passion and love for music and the community built by musicians. She started playing piano at a young age and after a few years transferred to violin which she then grew into her career and passion. Sarah believes that music can be learned and loved by everyone from young children to adults and from all walks of life. Through her teaching, she strives to convey this universal passion in every student while simultaneously providing the appropriate solid foundation that they can take with them into their daily lives. |
Agnieszka (Victoria) Peszko
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A native of Poland, Agnieszka Victoria Peszko, is an active recitalist and a devoted teacher residing in the United States. She has appeared as a soloist at renowned venues in her home country, such as the President’s Gallery, the Warsaw Music Society, and the Warsaw Philharmonic. In Europe she has performed in Poland, Finland, Germany, and in the United States she has given concerts in New York, New Jersey, and Colorado. In addition to performing solo repertoire, Ms. Peszko is particularly fond of chamber music. She has been a founding member of The Cali Piano Trio.
Ms. Peszko won several prizes at national and international competitions, including second prize at the Concerto Competition at Montclair State University, second prize at the J. Garscia International Competition, the First International Young Violinist Competition, the First Regional Chamber Music Competition, fourth prize at the G.F. Telemann Competition, and first distinction at the G. Bacewicz Competition. Ms. Peszko believes that every student has the ability to grow musically and technically and it is teacher’s responsibility to inspire, encourage and provide professional guidance to each student individually. As a teacher, she enjoys working with all her students and she takes great pride in her students’ success. Many of her pupils has participated and received First Class Honors at the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program as well as performed in seasonal concerts and recitals. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as camping and rock climbing. |
Zachary Uzin
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Mr. Zachary Uzin started playing the violin at the age of 5. In 1977, he graduated from Sokolovky's Musical College in Gomel, Belarus. From 1975 to 1983, he was teaching violin in Gomel's Tchaikovsky Music School. His students have been participating and rewarded in various competitions and festivals. At the same time, he worked as concertmaster of violins at Gomel Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. In 1983, he moved to Vorkuta, Russia where he performed and taught violin at Glinka Music School and Vorgasher Art College. In 1989, Mr. Uzin moved to the United States and continued to work as a violin teacher throughout the US. He also performs as a guitarist in two bands regularly; The Best Russian Music Band is a Russian style Jazz-Pop band and The Caesar’s Empire Jazz-Rock Band. |
Renata Norcia
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As a native of Berkeley, Renata took violin and viola lessons from Edmund Weingart and chamber music with Anne Crowden. She loved all-day chamber music on Saturdays and Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra on Sundays and taught piano a couple of years from home. It was highly inspirational, motivating, and exciting to be surrounded by such passionate musicians in the Bay Area that like many of them she wound up also going to NY.
After studying with Rafael Bronstein (a student of Leopold Auer) at Manhattan School of Music receiving a Bachelor's degree, she freelanced while studying and later played on Broadway with jobs/tours in Fl, VA, and CT and did some substitute teaching as well. Renata then moved to Amsterdam and from there toured the world for 3 years with Heidelberger and Köln chamber orchestras. Later freelanced in orchestras all over Holland. She then moved to Stockholm and played in almost all the Swedish orchestras, while living there also freelanced in Norway then moved to Oslo. In Norway, Renata continued freelancing but mainly began teaching violin and viola again(a little piano too) at Vestby and Hobøl Cultural schools for 21 years and has finally moved back to the Bay Area. Renata loves motivating her students of all ages, watching them grow both musically and as individuals, bringing out their creativity and expression. She believes that they can apply the same discipline learned playing combined with their passion to other aspects of their lives as well. |