Bios

       Deborah Kauffman Mishoe, a native of Lancaster, PA, is a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where she is a participant in the Healing Hands program as well as an educational quartet. She teaches at Masterworks School of the Arts and is the cellist of the faculty ensemble, the Vianello Trio.

        Her formal training includes a conservatory diploma from New School of Music/Orlando Cole and a university degree from SUNY at Buffalo/Paul Katz. She has also pursued her other musical interests in Teaching, the Psychology of music, Choral/instrumental arranging, and Publishing (www.waterwaypress.com).

       Deborah also enjoys ikebana, tai chi, dancing with her husband and reading mystery novels.

     Galina Johnson was born in Varna, Bulgaria. Her father, also a musician, influenced her to begin violin studies at the age of six. After completing her M.M. degree from the Conservatory of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria, she was a member of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra for 12 years.

     Galina has enjoyed traveling on tours in her off-seasons. She has performed in numerous festivals in Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Switzerland, France, Malta and Austria. She has been a member of New Symphony Orchestra, Classic FM Radio Orchestra, and several Chamber Orchestras and chamber ensembles.

     She has also played with various orchestras for CD recordings, movies, theatre and television shows. And, most recently, she performed with Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra on their premiere US tour, including stops in Charlotte, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Diego.

      Vasily Gorkovoy was born in Taganrog, Russia. He started taking violin lessons at age of 7. He earned his Bachelors degree from Rostov on Don State Conservatory in 2001. Vasily Gorkovoy was assistant principal of Rostov State Opera and Ballet for 4 years and principal of the Rostov on Don State Conservatory Chamber orchestra for 3 years.

       In 2005 he graduated from Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX ) with Masters degree and 2 years later completed Artist Certificate program at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX). Vasily enjoys playing chamber music and has performed in several chamber music festivals in Russia and USA including Mimir Chamber Music in ForthWorth,TX. In 2007 he was invited to the faculty of Music in the Mountains festival and was a part of the orchestra.

      Currently Vasily works as a private instructor at Southern Park Music School and is a part time member of Charlotte Symphony and Asheville Symphony orchestras.

    Viara Stefanova started playing violin at age of seven. She graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria with Bachelor of Music degree. She was a principal violist with the National Opera and Ballet in Sofia for three years. During this period, Viara played at numerous international festivals in Spain, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Japan, and Greece. In 2001 Viara was a part of a chamber music project recorded in France.

       In 2002 Viara came to the USA to continue her education. She earned Master degree and Artist Certificate from SMU in Dallas,TX.

       Currently, Viara is a member of Charlotte Symphony and has a private teaching studio. In the United States, she has performed with San Diego Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, New World Symphony in Miami, FL, "Music in the Mountains" festival in Colorado, and chamber music ensembles in Dallas, Houston, and Charlotte.