Violin Lessons
Fangye Sun
Fangye Sun is an accomplished classical violinist and dedicated educator with a passion for both performance and teaching. He has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral artist
throughout Asia, North America, and Europe, captivating audiences in prestigious venues, including the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Théâtre du Châtelet, Sanders Theatre, and Emerson Paramount Center.
Sun has showcased his artistic growth and technical prowess through 12 personal recitals during his academic and teaching journey. His talent has also earned him scholarships and fellowships at renowned festivals, including the Brevard Music Festival, Atlantic Music Festival, Endless Mountain Music Festival, China Europe Youth Orchestra Academy, and Celibidache Youth Orchestra Academy.
Sun holds a D.M.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a G.P.D. from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and an M.M. and B.A. from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. He has been mentored by esteemed musicians such as Eugene Purdue, Lynn Chang, Young-Nam Kim, Robert Bokor, and Wenning Guan. During his studies, he had further opportunities to work with Katie Lansdale, Kristopher Tong, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Joseph Genualdi, Joseph Swensen, Parry Karp, Lydia Artymiw, and the Lydian String Quartet.
Formerly served as a violin faculty member, advisor for Student Union and Committee at Hebei University, as well as a judge for the Chinese Musicians Association Violin Certificate Advancement Program in China, Sun continues to be an active solo violinist and group instrumentalist in various genres; besides maintaining an active violin studio in the US.
Fluent in English and Chinese, Sun passionately imparts his expertise to students of all ages and levels, holding workshops in both the US and China. Beyond his instrumental mastery, Sun's journey has also
encompassed orchestral conducting, which he pursued during his doctorate minor studies. This unique experience fortified his understanding of music ensemble, allowing him to offer guidance to students while coaching and mentoring Youth Symphony Orchestras.
Hailing from Baoding, China, Sun was born into a musical family and began his musical training at the age of six. Since then, he has dedicated himself to the violin. As a performer and pedagogue, he has over 30 years of playing and 15 years of teaching experience. Many of his students have found success in meeting their musical goals, whether it is getting into music schools, entering an orchestra, participating in a competition, or learning for personal enrichment.
He currently resides in San Diego, California, with his serial entrepreneur and personal trainer wife. Apart from his musical engagements, he enjoys hiking, running, and sailing.
Isobel Frazelle
Isobel is a dedicated violinist with 15 years of playing experience, with both classical and bluegrass training. As an adolescent, she was Concert Master in the Kansas City Youth Symphony, performed several private recitals, and performed with a local bluegrass band for a small time. Today she continues to play violin, along with mandolin and singing.
While she doesn't have an educational background in music, she does have a passion and love for music and extensive experience working with kids of all ages.
During the day, Isobel works full-time as a product specialist at a plumbing leak detection company. Teaching violin has become a great joy in addition to her day job and she looks forward to the days she has lessons.
Her hobbies include rock climbing, camping, hiking, and painting. She lives with her partner and her adventure cat, Teddy, who joins them on their climbing and camping excursions. She also enjoys dedicating her time to volunteer work with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Interfaith.
Isobel believes that anyone can learn to play, and it's never too late to begin. She brings a lighthearted and fun approach to learning violin, and she believes that it's important to meet the students where they're at, adapting lesson material along the way.
Ulyana Tsatsenko
Ulyana has specialized in violin teaching and orchestra playing. She has studied violin in Almaty Music College by Tchaikovsky and graduated with distinction. When she arrived in the US she had her diploma evaluated and has been reviewed as having a Bachelors in Music. She started to teach violin in the USA at California Music Studio and also had her own private students. Ulyana's philosophy is there is hardly one thing in the world more beautiful and expressive than music. Ability to appreciate, understand and enjoy music, play a musical instrument as well as watching your child progress in music, is a great source of happiness. Multiple studies showed direct benefit from learning music for our brain development, critical thinking, and even math skills. Music teaches us to feel, to act, to behave, to focus, it boosts confidence and independence, helps with social skills and self-discipline, brings joy to your heart. Ulyana firmly believes that life is so much richer with music and every student deserves to learn to his/her highest potential.
Thank you for giving yourself / your child a great opportunity to experience joy of making music. Bring your positivity, inquiring mind, and attention to the lessons!
Sharon Taylor
Sharon Taylor is a San Diego-based cellist, improviser, and educator.
While Taylor’s abilities have made her in-demand for a breadth of musical contexts including rock, jazz, hip-hop and musical theater her heart is with both orchestral and solo classical music. She performs with several local orchestras and has played principal cellist for the Palomar Symphony Orchestra, Villa Musica Summer Orchestra and Coronado Philharmonia. She has also performed for many of San Diego’s musical theater companies: Cygnet Theatre, Lambs Players Theatre, and San Diego Musical Theatre. As a recording artist, Ms. Taylor has been featured on several albums, including the 2019 San Diego Music Awards “Best hip-hop Album” Thirty First Street Sessions by Parker Meridian. Beyond San Diego, her talents have taken Taylor abroad to perform in Bolivia, Mexico, and China.
Her dedication to the cello began at the age of 10 in her hometown of Sacramento, CA. She later earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from San Diego State University under the tutelage of Thomas Stauffer. She continued her training in classical music with principal cellist Yao Zhao of the San Diego Symphony. Ms. Taylor is currently passing on her love and knowledge of the cello to her many students at her thriving teaching studio in San Diego, CA.