Violin Faculty

Olena was born in Kiyv, Ukraine, where she began her musical education at age 2, in a local children's choir "Schedrik". She began learning piano at 5 years old in a specialized music preschool. Several years later, Olena was accepted into the Kyiv Special Lysenko Music School, a preparatory school attached to the Kyiv Conservatory, where she studied violin, piano, and music theory/history for four years. Olena also studied ensemble music with her brother, pianist, Sergiy Komirenko, and together they have won awards in several national and international competitions, including the All-Russian Open Ensemble Music Competition. In 1998, Olena immigrated to the United States with her family, and continued learning violin under the guidance of North Carolina Symphony Concertmaster, Brian Reagin.

While living in North Carolina for 4 years, Olena has performed concerts regularly with her brother, won several music competitions, including First Prize in Tar River Symphony Young Artist Competition, became a member of Senior Orchestra at Triangle Youth Philharmonic and studied chamber music at Duke University String School.

Since moving to the Bay Area in 2002, Olena was also a member of Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and Senior Orchestra at California Youth Symphony, while continuing taking private lessons at Studio of Jenny Rudin in Palo Alto. During her senior year of High School, Olena acquired her first students as an apprentice of Jenny Rudin. While actively performing solo concerts, private event gigs, and studying at UC Berkeley, Olena has won numerous competitions around the Bay Area and California, including the Music Teachers Association of California VOCE Competition, Nova Vista Symphony Young Artist Competition, and Helen Cranfill Elliott Award in Pacific Musical Society Competition. Some of Olena's students also became successful young musicians in the Bay Area, as many of them became members of prestigious youth orchestras, playing first violin in the senior Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, El Camino Youth Symphony, and California Youth Symphony. Olena's students also won numerous competitions, including First prizes at the El Camino Youth Symphony Solo Competition,  the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and the Grand Champion Prize at the Youth Focus Music Competition.

As a member of the American String Teacher Association for 10 years, Olena offers her students opportunities through the Certificate Advancement Program, in addition to recitals and orchestra auditions. Working with students ages 3 to adult, Olena customizes her lesson plans to fit each individual student's personal needs and goals.