Bio

I was born in the city on the Black Sea, Odessa, in present-day Ukraine and was brought to St. Petersburg, Russia as a baby.  I started playing the violin at the age of 4 at my own request!  Soon after, my family immigrated to the United States, where we settled in New Jersey.  After finishing my education in the US, I received a Fulbright Grant (US government scholarship) to finish my studies in Finland.  I lived and worked in Finland for 10 years before coming to Jerusalem in 2007.

My violin has taken me to many places in the world– I have performed in the US, Finland, Russia, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, and, of course, Israel. I have played chamber music, in an orchestra, and as a soloist in recitals and with orchestras.  I have appeared on French and Israeli radio, and have participated in projects as diverse as recording a jazz CD and movie soundtracks.

diana lupo violin

My main occupation at the moment

is with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and I also perform regularly in numerous classical music chamber ensembles and solo concerts.
I also enjoy performing with the “Trio Petit Fleur”, a Jerusalem-based group with double bass and accordion which plays Klezmer, Italian, French, jazz and Israeli songs.  
The lighter repertoire and the opportunity to improvise is a nice change from the classical art music I have played for most of my life, and even helps me to understand classical music better.

Education:

Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Fulbright Scholar
Yale University,
Master of Music
Mannes College of Music in New York,
Bachelor of Music
University of Hartford, Suzuki Method violin pedagogy 2-year course

Performing Experience:

Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA, present occupation since 2007
Eastern Music Festival, faculty since summer 2003
Finnish National Opera and Ballet Orchestra, violinist, 10 years
Helsinki Klezmer Kapelye, klezmer band, violinist, 7 years
Concerto soloist with the South Orange Symphony,
Princeton Collegium Musicum, Eastern Chamber Orchestra