Participant: Marina Vishnyakova (violin, Russia)

Marina Vishnyakova, jazz violinist, arranger, composer, violin instructor from Russia graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod State Conservatory as a classical violin performer, but at the same time got interested in jazz. In 2005 she participated in the summer program at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. After graduation from the Conservatory Marina received Fulbright scholarship to study jazz in the USA. In 2010 she got her Master’s degree in jazz performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. While in the USA Marina became a highly demanded violin player. She participated in the West Oaklane Jazz Festival, Philadelphia International Festival of Art (PIFA), Clifford Brown festival in Wilmington, Delaware, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.
Marina was a member and soloist of the Philadelphia based ensembles F!, Warren Oree’s Philadelphia Freedom Jazz Orchestra, G. Calvin Weston’s Treasure of the Spirits (Music of Mahavishnu Orchestra), Belleville Gypsy Jazz Quartet, Up Jumped Strings jazz trio. In 2012 she recorded the album Play Out Loud together with G. Calvin Weston, John Medeski and Elliot Garland. Her first solo album Atlantic Experience was recorded the same year in Philadelphia. Currently she lives in Russia and teaches the violin at the Dzerzhinsk Music College.
Marina is a versatile violinist. She performs diverse improvisational styles such as mainstream jazz, gypsy jazz, jazz rock and fusion.