Polonsky Piano School

Olena Ross
PPS Teacher Since April 2005

Olena Ross was born in Ukraine (former USSR). She started to learn piano and violin at an early age, and by the age of twelve had decided to make music her main pursuit in life. She started to study piano and violin seriously and in depth, in a Special Music School for Gifted Children. By the age of 23 Olena had graduated from both the Musical College with Bachelor's degree, and the Pedagogical University in Kharkov, Ukraine (former USSR with the Master's degree as a Violinist, Pianist, and Orchestra Conductor. In addition she has received a special pedagogical training in piano, violin, and conducting, and has been officially named a Master Teacher in her University Diploma. After graduation, Olena had successfully taught piano and violin in a Special Music School for Gifted Children, prior to coming to the United States in 2003. In the USA, Olena continued her professional life in music, teaching piano and violin to private students, and, in addition, performing with the Nova Vista Symphony Orchestra, where she is currently employed.

Olena was much excited to start working for the well-known Russian School of Piano and Violin - the Polonsky Piano School. Prior to starting her position at the School, she had been extensively trained by Dr. Viktor Polonsky with the School's unique teaching method, which combines the famous Russian teaching technique with the internationally known Suzuki method, and which can be applied to both piano and violin.

Olena teaches piano and violin to students of all ages and abilities, but she is especially fond of teaching young kids. She loves to see how music shapes the character of a little musician, how much joy and interest the music lessons bring to her children. Olena has a warm and kind personality. She loves her students and they repay her with love and respect in return. She is a great communicator - coming from a foreign country she had mastered the English language in depth, and she presents her teaching ideas in a clear and entertaining way with a great sense of humor and patience. Olena believes that studying music should bring a sense of joy and success to her students.

Her Teaching Motto is: Enhance Your Life with Music!

Izabella Dagman
PPS Teacher Since June 2005

Izabella Dagman has studied piano and violin in Russia , in a Special Music School for gifted children, and later at the Music College . She than has been teaching in the same School for 8 years, prior to immigrating to Israel in 1995. She has successfully continued her teaching career there, teaching both piano and violin in an Israel School of Music. She came to the USA in 2002, and again has found good students for both piano and violin at first in her private studio, and later as a piano-violin teacher in Polonsky Piano School .

Isabella has great love for music, and for her young students. She feels the most comfortable to teach both piano and violin to beginner students – for the first 4 years.

Her students pay her back with great love, dedication, and reverence.

Maestro Imant Kotsinsh

Professor Imant Kotsinsh is an exceptionally experienced and talented symphony and opera conductor and violinist. He has served as a conductor of the Bolshoi Theater, and as Artistic Director of several major orchestras of Russia, and other republics of the former Soviet Union. He has been recognized worldwide for his conducting and leadership skills. In addition, he has always been very active as a concert violinist and teacher, performing with many leading orchestras in the USSR and teaching Violin Performance in a musical college in his native Latvia. He has also been enjoying a successful career of a recording artist both as violinist and as a conductor. His recordings include many major violin concertos, as well as educational series “Anthology of Children’s Violin Concerti”, which has been developed and conducted by Maestro Kotsinsh himself. His repertoire includes most symphonic and operatic works of all styles and periods, as well as many contemporary works, some of which were world premieres.

Imant Kotsinsh was born and educated in a former Soviet Union Republic Latvia. He is currently a Professor of Violin in Polonsky Piano School, as well as Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra “Musical Vitale”.