Laura DellaFera~Piano, Voice

M. M.  from Westminster Choir College of Rider University.  Bachelor of Music Degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. At Westminster, Laura placed first in the Voice Scholarship Competition, and performed as a soloist in the British and French Art Song Festivals.  She was also the recipient of the Covenant Presbyterian Church Scholarship.  Operatic roles she has performed include: Beth (Little Women), Pamina, (Die Zauberflote), Morgana (Alcina), First Lady (Die Zauberflote), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), and Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi).  Light opera and musical theatre roles she has portrayed include: Tessa (The Gondoliers), Lucie (A Tale of Two Cities), and Cosette (Les Miserables).  In addition to vocal performing, Laura has years of piano studies and is enthusiastic about teaching both piano and voice.                                                                                                   

Laura currently lives in Brookline                                                                                                                          

 Greg Silva~Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Guitar

Greg has been performing professionally since the age of 15.  His first year in Roomful of Blues, they were voted best live Blues Act by Downbeat Magazine.  Greg was voted Outstanding Bass Player 2007 by The Blues Audience.  Some of the artists Greg has performed with are Eric Burdon, Roomful of Blues, The Memphis Horns, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, James Montgomery and James Cotton.

 Greg's music education includes studies with Cecil McBee, John Lockwood, Rich Appleman, Jeff Covell, Oscar Stagnaro as well as the legendary Charlie Banacos.  Greg has been teaching for over 20 years and is the Private Electric & Upright Bass Instructor for MJ's Music School, and the Needham and Braintree Schools.

 Greg is currently performing with his Jazz Trio GST as well as doing studio and session work.  Greg is endorsed by Eden, Fishman Transducers and DR Strings. 

Galina Plotnikova Gershteyn~ Violin, Piano

Originally from Astrakhan, Russia, Galina began her musical studies at the age of six and performed with the Professional Youth Violin Ensemble. After immigration to the USA, she attended the University of Puget Sound (WA) where she received a Bachelors of Music in violin performance. The highlights of her undergraduate years were working with Maria Sampen, holding principal positions in the university’s orchestras, and studying for a semester in Vienna, Austria. Galina received her Masters of Music from the Longy School of Music studying with Valeria Kuchment and Malcolm Lowe. Currently, Galina holds violin positions in the Waltham Symphony Orchestra and the Freisinger Chamber Orchestra. In addition to performing in the Boston metro area, she teaches at the Artisan Music Studios and MJ’s Music School.                                                 
 

An Alum of Berklee College of Music, Andy has toured extensively across both the United States and Europe playing with Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Gwar, White Zombie, and Nirvana.  His teaching experience covers a broad range of ages and styles, from beginners to advanced students.  In addition to years of private teaching, he has taught at White's Music Education Center and Doug's Musical Instrument.  Andy applies creative and inventive approaches to supply students with both the knowledge and skills for self-expression, and the mechanics of music.