Photo Credit: Becky Oehlers
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Vena has been based in Philadelphia for nearly 10 years, where she leads an active life as both performer and teaching artist. She has dedicated a great deal of her time to working with programs that use music as a vehicle for social change. Vena's most passionate endeavor has been to co-found Prometheus Chamber Orchestra while balancing an active life as a violin teaching artist in West Philadelphia.
She has voyaged to all corners of the globe to share music with others. She has studied at Domaine Forget in Canada, toured as a member of the American Institute of Music Studies (AIMS), and even served as Concertmaster of the International Opera Theater's premier of "Iago" by Carlo Pedini in Citta della Pieve, Italy. One of her most passionate journeys took her to Ramallah, Palestine, where for three Decembers she performed as a member of the Al-Kamandjati Baroque Music Festival in addition to teaching and coaching young musicians at the Al-Kamandjati School. This life changing experience even culminated in a projected titled Documenting Harmony - in which Vena, bassist Jerrell Jackson, guitarist Jordan Perry, and photographer Dana Scherer created a video documentary of music education in Palestine. |
Vena is excited for more adventures with music - it has been through these experiences both locally and internationally that she has evolved as an artist and human being. In fact, she is currently traveling the world as a global citizen, using her skills as a violinist, teacher, and community organizer to find ways to connect artistry with community on a more global level.