Yelena Balabanova was raised in the Moscow region of Russia, where she began her musical training at the age of four. She received a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy Summa cum Laude from the Moscow Gnesins’ Music College at the age of 19. She holds a Master's degree in piano performance, pedagogy, chamber music, and accompanying Summa cum Laude from the Russian State Academy of Music in Moscow and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied with Larry Graham and Robert Spillman.
Dr. Balabanova has taught at the State School of the Arts in the Moscow region of Russia, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the Renaissance Music Academy of Virginia, and the University of Colorado at Boulder, also frequently performing at venues including Steinway Hall in New York City and Colorado Music Fest, and judging state and international competitions. She is a sought –after clinician on such issues as injury prevention, artistry, and performance practice. Dr. Balabanova was awarded the National Recognition Certificate from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts for the exceptional artistic achievements of her students, the University of Colorado Faculty Scholarship, and named to the Honoree list by the National Federation of Music Clubs. After working as the Artistic Director of API and Colorado MTNA Competition Chairman, currently she is the MTNA Washington Chairman for Arts Awareness and Advocacy.
In 2001, Yelena’s love for teaching led her to found International Conservatory Studio, Inc. (ICS) in Colorado Springs. ICS students of all ages have been recognized with many state, national, and international awards, and performed with many orchestras, including the Colorado Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic. ICS graduates have received scholarships to such schools as Peabody Conservatory, BYU, CU-Boulder, Cleveland Institute of Music, Wheaton Conservatory in Chicago, and others. Currently, Dr. Balabanova enjoys performing across the U.S. and teaching with ICS both online and at its new location in the Seattle area.

Deborah Dewey has earned a reputation throughout the United States for her pianistic talent. Critics have praised the “sparkling passage work,” “warm operatic lyricism,” “thoughtful interpretation,” and “sense of dramatic urgency” in her playing. Dewey has performed extensively as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and chamber musician. She was guest soloist with the Oakland Symphony, Flint Symphony, Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia and Peter Britt Festival Orchestra, among others. She has performed at the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, the Methow Chamber Music Festival and with the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet in addition to participating in duo-recital tours. National Public Radio stations in Connecticut, Michigan and throughout the West have broadcast many of her performances. Together with pianist Lisa Bergman, she formed VENTIDITA (twentyfingers), the celebrated four-hand duo that has performed throughout the state of Washington.

Acclaimed for her sensitive musicianship and technical mastery, Ms. Dewey won numerous national and regional piano competitions throughout her years of study with Margaret Ott, Theodore Lettvin, Donald Currier and John Perry. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Wellesley College and a Master of Music degree in piano performance from the Yale School of Music. Devoted to the development of young musicians, she has been a member of the piano faculties at the University of Washington, Whitworth College, The Cornish Institute and Yale University. She is currently in great demand as a competition judge, lecturer, piano instructor and performer and resides in Seattle, Washington with her two children.

In 1991 Alexei Girsh came to Redmond from Russia, where he was born and educated, attaining his Bachelor's Degree at Glinka Conservatory in Novosibirsk and Master's Degree-Conductor of Symphony and Opera-from the Mussorgsky Conservatory in Ekaterinburg. Included in his portfolio are a number of published arrangements and recordings.

He was highly acclaimed as principal conductor of the Radio-Television Symphony of Vladivostok, Music Director of the St. Petersburg Youth Symphony and a professor at the Institute of the Arts in St. Petersburg.

Since moving to the United States, he has been Music Director of the Washington Wind Symphony (Redmond, 1993-96), the Youth Philharmonic Northwest (Redmond, 1994-96), the Bellevue Ballet Orchestra (1996-99), and currently the Eastside Symphony (Redmond, 1992-present). He is also Music Director of the Renton Youth Symphony orchestra.

In 2000 he was honored with the city of Redmond's Patron of the Arts Award. Recently he helped found the Concert Opera of Seattle where he is Artistic and Music Director.