About
From an early age, Russian-born violinist Dr. Maria Bessmeltseva has performed in the concert halls of Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Italy, and the United States of America. Dr. Bessmeltseva's solo career has taken her from the celebrated stages of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Carnegie Hall in New York City to the Glinka Philharmonic Chamber Hall and St. Petersburg State Capella in St. Petersburg, Russia. She has appeared as a soloist with the Symphony of the Mountains in Tennessee, the Southern Great Lakes Symphony in Michigan, the Firelands Symphony in Ohio, and the Hot Springs Music Festival Orchestra in Arkansas. In addition to her live performances, Dr. Bessmeltseva has also appeared on local TV and radio stations in Bloomfield Hills, MI, Rutland, VT, and South Hadley, MA.
Dr. Bessmeltseva earned her Bachelor's degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Gregory Fulkerson and Alla Aranovskaya. Here, she gained invaluable chamber music experience in master classes with Jennifer Koh, Richard Goode, and Menahem Pressler. As a member of the Graduate String Quartet at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Bessmeltseva accomplished further chamber music study, and completed her MM under the tutelage of Vasilie Beluska. She achieved her DMA at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, under the direction of Yehonatan Berick.
Dr. Bessmeltseva is a frequent prizewinner in competitions, including the International Mazur Youth Chamber Music Competition, Elizabeth Harper Vaughn Concerto Competition, Eighth Annual Hellam Young Artists' Competition, Tuesday Scholarship Musical Competition, Firelands Symphony Concerto Competition, Lima Young Artists Competition, and Joan and Daniel Rutenberg International Chamber Music Competition.
While not performing, Dr. Bessmeltseva teaches at various summer music festivals, including PhoenixPhest Chamber Music Festival in Ann Arbor, MI, Summer String Camp at BGSU in Bowling Green, OH, and Friends Music Camp in Barnesville, OH. She has also served as a judge at Ohio Music Teachers Association State Buckeye Audition, Ohio Music Teachers National Association Competition and 49th Annual Competition in Music Performance at Bowling Green State University.
Courses Taught
MUS 379: Strings Class
MUS 150: Small Ensemble
MUS 425: Major Perf: Violin
MUS 128: Non-Major Perf: Violin
Expertise
Violin, Music
