About Us
String Musicians
Current string musicians for Occasional Brass and Strings all hail from New England, and enjoy playing weddings and events in the Boston area. Get to know them here.
Barbara Zdravesky - Cello
Barbara Zdravesky began playing the cello at the age of eight in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She began her college cello studies at the University of New Mexico with Joanna DeKeyser, and finished with George Mack at Rhode Island College. Barbara received her degrees in music and anthropology from Rhode Island College. Barbara has performed with several orchestras in the area including the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, the Rhode Island Civic Chorale Orchestra, Musica Dolce, and has held the principal cellist seat in the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra since 1993. She has also performed with numerous small ensembles, regional community theater groups, and in several local establishments and churches.
barbara@occasionalbrass.com
Diane Guillemette - Viola
In addition to her work woth Occasional Brass & Strings, Diane Guillemette is a founding member and principle violist of Musica Dolce. Her musical studies include a residence at McGill University in Montreal, and a Bachelor of Applied Music at the University of Rhode Island. Diane is an active freelance musician who has performed with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, the RI Civic Chorale and Orchestra and the New Bedford Symphony. With an extensive background in business management, she has recently completed a Masters of Liberal Arts in Management at the Harvard Extension School of Harvard University and is sole proprietor of a business strategy consulting firm, Blue Earth.
diane@occasionalbrass.com
Eliza Kopczynska - Violin
Born in Szczecin, Poland, Eliza Kopczynska has secured a reputation as a versatile and inspiring artist. Equally comfortable on classical, pop and rock stages, she has embraced diverse opportunities in multiple concerts with Josh Groban, Mark Wood, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, performances with Tiempo Libre, Wynton Marsalis and the International Chamber Soloists, as well as performing with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout Austria, Germany, France, Poland, and the United States. Eliza completed her MA degree in violin performance from Poznan Academy of Music in Poland, where her teacher was Professor Michal Grabarczyk, and her MM degree in violin performance from Michigan State University in the studio of Professor
Dmitri Berlinsky, where she is near completion of Doctor of
Musical Arts degree in violin performance.
eliza@occasionalbrass.com
Emily Halpern Lewis - Harp, Celtic Harp
Emily Halpern Lewis has been a featured soloist with the Bridgeport Symphony, Salem Philharmonic, North Shore Philharmonic, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Portland Chamber Orchestra in Maine, and most recently with the Walden Chamber Players. She is the winner of several awards including a three time winner of the Elizabeth Herbert Hobin Harp Scholarship and a recipient of a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center. Emily began her harp studies with Lucile Lawrence, and continued studying with her at Tanglewood and Boston University. A much sought after teacher, Emily Halpern Lewis has served on the faculty at Gordon College, Boston University, and is currently teaching at MIT, the Phillips Academy at Andover, and
Concord Academy.
emily@occasionalbrass.com
Jeanne Drumm - Violin, Viola, Piano
A native of Seattle, WA, Jeanne received Master of Music degrees in both piano and viola from the University of Washington before moving to Boston to pursue a Doctorate in viola at New England Conservatory with Carol Rodland, Marcus Thompson and Kim Kashkashian. She frequently performs with many area orchestras, including principal viola with the Cape Ann and Brockton Symphonies. Over the past three decades, Jeanne has been heard in theater pits, as part of a jazz ensemble, playing chamber music in Jordan Hall, as a concerto soloist in Seattle's Meany Hall, performing in Swiss chapels, and at many windy weddings. She hopes to one day be a college professor.
jeanne@occasionalbrass.com
Kristen Drymala - Cello
A native of Bel Air, MD, Kristen attended Oberlin Conservatory (Music Performance - Cello) and Boston Conservatory (Music Performance - Cello, Masters in Music Education). In addition to her work with OB&S, she performs frequently with many area orchestras, chamber ensembles, rock/pop groups, and more. Kristen has held teaching positions in Weston, Roxbury, and Cambridge. At the moment, she is focusing on Gem Club, a piano/cello duo with Christopher Barnes. Gem Club has been featured on NPR and Pitchfork.com.
kristen@occasionalbrass.com
Meghan O'Connor - Violin
Meghan O'Connor began studying the violin at the age of six. A 2002 graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Meghan received a BA degree with honors in music and mathematics. She is a private violin instructor and freelances throughout Southern New England. She has performed with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, the Rhode Island Pops, and the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra. Meghan is a member of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, Musica Dolce, and is concert master of the Newport County Community Orchestra. In the spring and summer she manages the Box Office for the Newport Music Festival.
meghan@occasionalbrass.com
Olga Kouznetsova - Violin
Olga Kouznetsova has performed with Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Yes, Moody Blues, Sarah Brightman, Three Irish Tenors, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamrollers, Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Josh Groban, Gene Pitney, Machine 475, The Speakeasy String Quartet, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, and many others. A graduate of New England Conservatory, she is on the instrumental faculty at Phillips Academy Andover.
olga@occasionalbrass.com
Susan Kirchhausen - Viola
Susan Kirchhausen grew up in Baltimore, MD and began studying piano and violin at any early age. A graduate of Florida State University (Music Performance - Viola), she went on to earn her M.M.E. from UMass Amherst. Before settling in Worcester, MA, Susan made her way up the east coast playing with the Disney All-American College Orchestra and the Tallahassee, Greensboro, and Savannah Symphony Orchestras. She has particularly enjoyed working with such artists as Sarah Chang, Jian Wang, Ray Charles, The Moody Blues, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Matt Catingub, Dave Brubeck, Rosemary Clooney, and Mariachi Cobre. Susan maintains a studio of nearly 40 students. She conducts orchestras for children and adults, as well as coaching
chamber groups of all ages.
susan@occasionalbrass.com
Valerie Thompson - Cello
A graduate of the Berklee School of Music, Valerie Thompson is a well-rounded musician that is comfortable in any playing situation. She divides her time between a very active cello studio, performing regularly with Bent Wit Cabaret, writing music and performing with Goli (a Cello/Marimba/Vocal ensemble), and attending a plethora of weddings and events for Occasional Brass & Strings. Valerie grew up in Kansas City, MO and now resides in Central Square, Cambridge, MA. She was recently accepted to New England Conservatory and starts her grad work in Contemporary Improvisation (CI) this Fall.
valerie@occasionalbrass.com
Zoia Bologovsky - Violin
Zoia Bologovsky is an active musician in the New England area. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Zoia has had many adventures touring as first violinist with the Arden String Quartet around America and Europe. She has held positions with the Portland and Springfield Symphonies and Rhode Island Philharmonic. Currently, Zoia is Concertmaster of North Shore Philharmonic, MetroWest Symphony and Connecticut River Valley Orchestra. She is also Principal 2nd violin of Nashua Symphony and PORTopera, and can be found teaching at St Paul's School in Concord, NH and her home studio in Stoneham, MA.
zoia@occasionalbrass.com
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