Welcome, Alek! I'm new to this forum too. I am a professional violinist from Maryland. I play classical repertoire, also strolling stuff and I also improvise jazz and blues. My background is extensive. I've played in orchestras, done chamber music and worked as a soloist. I played at Carnegie Hall. I've also played at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Farm Park, hotels including The Mayflower and Washington Hilton, Corcoran Gallery of Art, etc. I've also played at smaller venues - restaurants, club/cabaret type settings, including Birdland and The Algonquin Hotel in NYC. I freelance in the DC/MD area, and I also perform in NYC on a regular basis, about every other month, at the Algonquin, Birdland, Butterfield 8, and with legendary "lounge" pianist Irving Fields at Nino's Tuscany Restaurant. I'm always available for work in the MD/DC/NYC areas - weddings, receptions, holiday/corporate events, parties, studio/session work, etc. My standards are the very highest, and I always bring the ultimate in perfection, elegance and class to any event. If you go to www.violinist.com and do a search for "Maryland" violinists, my name will come up and you can take a look at my profile, which shows some of my training and background. I'm also working on a resume for this site as well. And there are some pictures of me playing at Birdland for Jim Caruso's "Cast Party.  The pictures are posted at www.jim-caruso.com, and you would need to click on "news" and then on "flickr". One of my favorite pictures is from the Cast Party performance on 2/16/09. The picture shows me standing at the mike and playing "Blue Moon" and "Begin the Beguine". I'm very happy to be a part of this forum, and I look forward to meeting other musicians and sharing.

Carolyn