Meet The Faculty
Ms. Daria dodonova
Daria Dodonova was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia and started her violin studies at the age of 2.5. At the age of 18 Daria decided to follow her dreams and moved to the US to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Since 2021 Daria has worked at various organizations, including Hip Cat Music School and Illinois Wesleyan University. She provided private violin and viola lessons to beginner students as young as 3 years old and as old as 65 years old. She also served as a private strings instructor at Klepak Music Foundation where she worked with underprivileged students. In addition to private teaching, Daria also has experience with chamber coaching and the administrative side of music education through her role as Associate Director at Illinois Chamber Music Festival.
Daria is a performing violist and violinist. She has performed as a part of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and won the Henry Charles Memorial Concerto-Aria Competition in 2020. This gave her an opportunity to perform as a soloist with Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra. She also subbed in the viola section of Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
In August of 2023 Daria moved to Baltimore for her Master’s Degree in Viola Performance at Peabody Conservatory where she studied with Victoria Chiang. In Baltimore Daria continued to give private lessons through City String and Piano organization. She has also become a Bell Choir Director of Springfield Presbyterian Church in Sykesville, MD. In the Summer of 2024 Daria joined Aspen Music Festival as a Student Recitals Coordinator for their summer season.