A dynamic orchestral musician, chamber musician, soloist, and educator, Dr. Taisiya Sokolova brings her expertise to every performance. A native of Russia, she began playing the violin at the age of three, later discovering her musical voice through the viola. Now based in Boston, she recently completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance at Boston University, studying under Steve Ansell of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She also holds degrees from DePaul University (Professional Diploma) and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (BM, MM), where she trained with Atar Arad and Wei-Ting Kuo, respectively.
A recipient of the O1B Artist Visa for Extraordinary Ability, Taisiya’s career spans orchestral, chamber, and solo performance, with past roles including a four-year fellowship with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago (2018–2022). She has performed with ensembles such as the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Chicago, New Bedford Symphony, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Currently, she serves as principal viola of the Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport and Boston Opera Collaborative.
Her festival appearances include the Heifetz Music Festival, Red Rocks Music Festival, and MusicFest Perugia, further enriching her experience in diverse musical settings. Beyond classical music, Taisiya’s versatility has led to collaborations with major artists and recording projects, including performances and recordings with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Disturbed, Andrea Bocelli, JVKE, and Il Volo.
A dedicated educator, Taisiya is deeply committed to teaching young musicians, and is currently in the process of becoming certified in the Suzuki method. She is on faculty at Project STEP and works with students in Greater Boston, preparing the next generation of string players for success. At Indiana University, she worked with the String Academy and received pedagogy training from Mimi Zweig. You can read more about Taisiya’s appraoch to music education in her teaching philosophy.