The students of Faina Podolnaya have reached high levels of accomplishment ever since a private ensemble of her best students began to perform under the name of James M. Collier Siskiyou Violins for recitals and other occasional concerts.

Ms. Podolnaya’s dream of bringing her private student ensemble to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City became a reality in 2005. She submitted a videotape of James M. Collier Siskiyou Violins to World Projects, the most respected producer of International Youth Music Festivals and special events, and was thrilled to receive their invitation to participate in their 2005 New York Youth Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall.

World Projects, established in 1984, has achieved its reputation as the leading producer of youth music events by arranging performances in world-class music halls and employing outstanding teams of international faculty fully focused on all aspects of music education and its importance to developing young musicians. The Siskiyou Violins’ unique all violin ensemble was awarded a gold medal for that performance, and they were issued a standing invitation to participate in all World Projects events without the usual audition requirement.

In June, 2008, Ms. Podlolnaya took her Siskiyou Violins students to another World Projects event, this time at the International Youth Music Festival in Los Angeles. They performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall , designed by world famous architect Frank Gehry at an estimated cost of $274 million. Gehry’s original design in 1987 called for an ambitious plan to create the most acoustically superior concert hall ever constructed in the world, as well as a structure of unique and stunning visual beauty.

From design to completion and inauguration in 2003, it took 16 years to build this incredible facility. The magnificent structure has exceeded the highest expectations of performers and audience alike in providing an unforgettable and unequalled musical experience. Walt Disney Concert Hall is the newest addition to the 11 acre Music Center at the Performing Arts Center of downtown Los Angeles and is also the newest home of the historic Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra who first performed in the Trinity Auditorium in 1919.

The World Projects 2008 International Youth Music Festival in Los Angeles included several music groups from all over the world, including as far away as Taiwan. Judges and officials there once more awarded the Siskiyou Violins a gold medal for their performance, and urged Ms. Podolnaya to make this exceptional group more available to the public.

To attain that goal, many challenges had to be addressed. Much work and expense is required to arrange for performing concerts at this level, let alone traveling with a large group of students. Many talented students could not afford such trips, and it was difficult for some even to afford regular lessons. Ms. Podolnaya wanted to make this opportunity available to all talented students who wanted to participate, but she could not afford to take time from her teaching practice, or by herself manage to do the work of creating some sort of official group that would have this ability, so she asked for help.

From this came the idea of creating a nonprofit group which would be expanded to include talented students of other local teachers. A nonprofit group would be able to apply for grants and sponsorships; accept tax-deductible donations to help provide funding for performances in concerts locally, nationally, and abroad; and establish scholarships to assist students who need help with the cost of music lessons and travel to be able to participate in such trips. A board of directors was formed, and they worked to establish Siskiyou Violins as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, achieving this milestone in 2009.

Years of development have followed, and the group now includes both the Siskiyou Violins Advanced Ensemble and the Siskiyou Violins Protégés, ranging in age from as young as four to college age. Siskiyou Violins has performed at many churches, synagogues, and other community events around Southern Oregon and Northern California. They have performed numerous times at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show, at the Britt Music Festival, Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, and have also performed with the highly respected Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. In 2010, they were one of only two groups selected from hundreds of applicants nationwide to be invited to perform at the American String Teacher™s Association™s National Conference held in Santa Clara California. They were also twice invited to perform at the Oregon Music Educators Association Annual Conference in Eugene. The group has returned to Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall multiple times over the years, repeatedly earning gold medals and highest honors, each time with a new set of students experiencing this exceptional achievement.

Who We Are

The James M. Collier Siskiyou Violins is a group of exceptionally talented young violin students from southern Oregon and northern California. Originally born from a handful of advanced violin students of local instructor Faina Podolnaya who would occasionally perform ensemble pieces at student recitals, the group became an independent 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit organization in 2009.

The James M. Collier Siskiyou Violins has both an Advanced Ensemble and the Protege Ensemble, with an average of over 45 students who range from five to twenty years old.

Our Mission Statement

“We enable talented young students to pursue their passion for the violin through inspired teaching, high expectations, self-discipline, and appreciative recognition. We provide opportunities to perform in concerts in Southern Oregon and beyond, and in competitive festivals globally. We seek opportunities to perform in school settings to motivate students – and parents – into engaging in musical training. We encourage public investments in school-based music and arts education for all students. We support other music and arts groups in Southern Oregon.”

Oregon Cultural Trust Members

James M. Collier Siskiyou Violins is one of the 1200 Oregon arts, heritage, and humanities nonprofits that are listed on the Oregon Cultural Trusts’s website. Anyone donating to James M. Collier Siskiyou Violins can donate a matching amount to the Oregon Cultural Trust and receive the full amount of your matching donation as a tax credit on your Oregon State taxes and at the same time you will be doubling the cultural benefit to Oregon. Get more information about it at CulturalTrust.org

Faculty

Faina Podolnaya

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Faina Podolnaya , Artistic Director

Born in a small village in Ukraine, Ms. Podolnaya earned a Master’s Degree in Music Teaching and Performance from the Kazakhstan University. She was the leading violin teacher at the Music College for Gifted Children in Almaty State in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan. Among her honors was her selection as Soviet Union Laureate Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Podolnaya came to the United States in 1999. Since starting her successful music studio in Ashland, she has followed her heart and made teaching violin and sharing her passion for music her life. She served as the Associate conductor of the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon (YSSO) for 15 years. As the Artistic Director of Siskiyou Violins, she has brought the group to international competitions at Carnegie Hall and the Walt Disney Concert hall, bringing home 4 Gold Medals with the ensemble and near perfect scores from the judges. Her students continue to achieve at a high level at national and international competitions. In 2016, she was nominated for the Outstanding Americans by Choice Award.

Kendra Law

ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Kendra Law, Assistant Artistic Director

Kendra Law is thrilled to have returned to the Rogue Valley and is excited to grow Suzuki Violin in Southern Oregon!

Kendra has been teaching music for over 35 years, specializing in violin and viola. While working towards her undergraduate as a violin performance major at SOU, she attended several Suzuki violin and piano teacher training institutes, eventually becoming one of the most prolific Suzuki instructors in the Rogue Valley.

Kendra later moved to Portland where she completed her graduate work in Suzuki Pedagogy. This led her to participate in a pilot program at James John Elementary School, a low income, inner city school in Portland. This program allowed every child in first grade to study the violin!

Kendra uses her expertise in Suzuki training to gently lead classes from ages 3 to 103. Classes are a fun and creative environment where parents play an active role. From week to week, classes build from clapping and singing, to musical games and stories, to violin technique.

Kendra has been a guest instructor for several summers at both the Pacific Northwest Suzuki Institute in Portland, as well as the Suzuki Institute at the University of Oregon. She was the founder of Music Magic’s fiddle camps and workshops.

Kendra is proud to have written several stringed activity books that have been enjoyed by thousands of children throughout the country. She also wrote for the Kids Korner column of the Suzuki Journal, which is distributed throughout the world.

After acquiring a thriving studio in Portland, as well as teaching at the Portland Community Music Center for 12 years, Kendra’s heart brought her back to Ashland, where she lives next to her daughter’s family, including her two amazing grandchildren. Kendra is very excited to be a part of Siskiyou Violins, as well as welcoming a new studio of string players!

Testimonials

"What a great musical journey you took us on with this piece - you sound like a professional group - such passion in your playing is delightful to hear! You are a singing, breathing orchestra. Fun! What great showmanship!"

It's absolute MAGIC! The attention to detail - the nuance, the bow control, pitch, dynamics. It all comes together to provide a thrilling, musical experience. All the musicians are totally involved in the music making - and with tremendous JOY. My admiration knows no bounds for this group and their director.

Feeling rubato so well together - wow! You are so connected to each other - like one big quartet - fabulous organic playing. Loved how much fun you are having with each other - perfect.

Carnegie Hall has not heard much like this. The nuance, musicianship, and feeling in the ensemble is really, really amazing! This is exactly the kind of music making that is not done by people of your age....You have a great leader.