The Musicians
Pianist/Harpist/Flutist Lara Garner
Lara Garner is both a classical pianist and a celtic harpist, as well as a flutist. She has performed in pubs, restaurants, concert halls, churches, castles, cathedrals, gardens, and stately homes in both the United States and Europe. She has lived and performed in both Rome and in Paris, where she developed her musical style. As a pianist, Lara has played much of the major piano chamber music repertoire and is the founding member of the Amethyst Trio and Trio Con Spirito, as well as the Celtic Irish folk trio, Celtic Sands. She is on Celtic Sands cd entitled "Wild Horses" on the Skitz lable and is on Harpers Hall latest cd. Lara's musical interests are diverse; last year she made an appearance in a music video for hip-hop artist Etan and recently performed for radio station Live 105 with a Bay Area band. She has accompanied many opera singers and instrumentalists and has played many stage shows and been on radio both locally and in Europe. She also writes her own original music. Lara has a degree in music from U.C. Berkeley and a Master's Degree in International Relations from San Francisco State University. She plays a unique grenadilla blackwood flute and a 5'5" wooden Celtic harp.
Violinist Alina Polonskaya
A native of Russia, Alina came to the Bay Area at the age of 16. Her music degree is from Southern Baptist University of Texas. She plays with many local orchestras, including the SF Sinfonietta, the Russian Chamber Orchestra and is currently concertmaster for the Marin Community Orchestra. She has played in many symphony orchestras around the country, including the Plano Symphony in Plano, Texas.
Cellist Stephanie Blandino
Stephanie Boivin Blandino is native from Quebec, Canada. She has a degree in music from the Conservatory of Music of her French speaking hometown, Chicoutimi. She also has a Bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in cello performance from San Francisco State University. Stephanie is a classically trained yet versatile cellist who can also play a variety of contemporary and pop works. Seasoned freelance musician and instructor, she has been the principal cellist of the San Francisco Sinfonietta since 2003. Stephanie also plays bass guitar from time to time and was in a garage band some years ago back in Canada.
Violinist Ilana Thomas
Ms. Thomas' numerous solo and chamber music engagements have occurred throughout the United States and Europe. Highlights include solo appearances with the San Francisco Symphony and the Albany, NY Symphony, as well as appearances at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Tanglewood Music Center. Ms. Thomas served as the associate concertmaster of the Albany, NY Symphony Orchestra for 7 seasons, including one as acting concertmaster. She has performed as a member of the NYC based chamber orchestra Philharmonia Virtuosi, the Springfield MA Symphony, the Modesto Symphony, and the California Symphony. Ms. Thomas' diverse appearances have included Broadway productions in NYC, including Aida and the Producers. Among her recording credits are the Broadway Cares benefit album "Home for the Holidays" and with Broadway vocalist Lauren Kennedy in "Songs of Jason Robert Brown". She has recorded with punk and rock bands with featured performances on electric 5-string violin and toured with Eric Clapton. Her classical recording experience has involved projects for numerous labels, including Deutsche Grammophon, Argo, and Albany Records, for film, and for the Nickelodeon cartoon, "The Backyardigans".
Cellist Shain Carrasco
Shain began playing cello at the age of six, and by the time he turned fourteen, he had decided to dedicate his life to perfecting his cello playing and performing. After completing both his High School and Bachelor's degree at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Shain moved to San Francisco in 1999 to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since completion of his Master's degree at SFCM in 2002, Shain has been an active Symphonic and Chamber musician. Shain had been the Principal Cellist of the former Oakland Opera, and is currently the Assistant Principal cellist of the Santa Cruz Symphony, and San Francisco Sinfonietta, and frequent freelance player in the California, Berkeley, Monterey, Napa Valley, Modesto, and Merced Symphonies, and the Reno and Fresno Philharmonic Orchestras as well as the Russian Chamber Orchestra of Marin county. As well as playing with Amethyst Trio, Shain is also a member of the Presidio String Quartet - which champions contemporary chamber music, and the Musical Art Quintet - which plays the original Latin inspired compositions. In addition to performing, Shain's other great passion is teaching cello lessons to students of all ages.
Guitarist Jon Mendle
Since beginning guitar studies at the age of 12 and making his Carnegie Hall debut at age 20, classical guitarist Jon Mendle is rapidly building his career. Jon toured with world superstar cellist Yo Yo Ma last year on a 10-concert whirlwind tour of the United States, playing in Ma's famous Silk Road Ensemble. Jon received his graduate degree from the San Francisco Conservatory under the tutelage of renowned guitarist Sergio Assad. Jon's primary instrument is an 11-string archguitar built in 2007 by Alan Perlman of San Francisco. The archguitar is a hybrid of the Renaissance and Baroque lutes, 19th century guitar, and modern guitar, making it ideal for a large cross section of early music. Jon was the 2009 winner of the SF Conservatory's concerto competition with the Villa-Lobos guitar concerto. Jon is also a member of the San Francisco Guitar Quartet. Jon recently released his first solo cd, which was critically acclaimed by Soundboard magazine, the premier magazine for classical guitar. Jon also plays in the Celtic folk group Celtic Sands and he enjoys playing the occasional punk rock show.
Cellist Louella Hasbun
Louella Hasbun has a music degree from Manhattan School of Music and was a cellist with the Mexico City Symphony before moving to the Bay Area. She has played in the San Jose Symphony for over 20 Years (now called Symphony Silicon Valley) and plays in the Marin Symphony and has particiapted in many appearances and recordings over the years. Ms. Hasbun has a busy performing and teaching career when she is not playing with the Amethyst Trio, including coaching the Golden Gate Philharmonic and teaching at Cazadero Music Camp.
