Pianist Yelena Mealy
COMMUNITY News:
The UCLA Sage Concert Series presents a double header for its fall concert. Pianist Yelena Mealy and the Quemazon Brass Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Unitarian Church at 738 N. Sage St. Admission is free but donations are accepted.
Mealy was born in Kazan, a large Russian city on the Volga River. There she started her musical instruction at age six, attending one of the many Russian Music Schools. That education continued through 8th grade at which time she went to Kazan Secondary Vocational School of Music for four years. Mealy was awarded the qualification of Teacher of Piano and Concertmaster.
She then attended Kazan State Pedagogical Institute for three years to get her Master’s Degree in Pedagogy graduating with a certificate of Teacher of Music. While at the institute, Mealy started to work as an instructor at Kazan Music School, teaching children to play piano and playing for children’s choirs. She received a Professional Certificate in Piano Pedagogy and Collaborative Pianist.
Since moving to the U.S. in 2001, Mealy has been continuously employed as a piano teacher and professional accompanist. She came to Los Alamos seeking a better life for her family and said she likes the outdoors, nature, hiking, gardening and making crafts with her daughter.
The Quemazon Brass Quartet is a group of brass-playing friends who get together largely for their personal enjoyment of playing brass music in a chamber setting. The group has been playing continuously for about 25 years with a repertoire that varies from early Renaissance to jazz. They are particularly well-known for their endurance in colder settings, contributing to Easter sunrise celebrations and participating in the Smith’s grand opening from the frozen foods section. However, they do prefer their more temperate engagements at Unquarked, the Santa Fe Renaissance Fair and several weddings and parties in the area.
Quemazon Brass Quartet includes Bruce Letellier and Dave Korzekwa on trumpet and Stan Brown and Phil Jones on trombone.. Courtesy photo
