Emilia Kister began singing in a children’s choir and learning piano at the age of four, in Moscow, Russia where she studied at the Gnessin Specialized Musical School for Gifted Children. At the age of ten, her family immigrated to the United States and Emilia continued studying piano at the Kaufman Music Center in NYC. During High School, she sang in the school Choir, an a cappella group and fell in love with chamber music. For college, Emilia attended the Eastman School of Music to pursue a degree in piano performance, while there, she sang in the Eastman Chorale and continued to make music with others through accompanying and chamber music. During her third year of studies, Emilia switched from piano performance to music education, and hasn’t looked back since! 

Emilia Kister began singing in a children’s choir and learning piano at the age of four, in Moscow, Russia where she studied at the Gnessin Specialized Musical School for Gifted Children. At the age of ten, her family immigrated to the United States and Emilia continued studying piano at the Kaufman Music Center in NYC. During High School, she sang in the school Choir, an a cappella group and fell in love with chamber music. For college, Emilia attended the Eastman School of Music to pursue a degree in piano performance, while there, she sang in the Eastman Chorale and continued to make music with others through accompanying and chamber music. During her third year of studies, Emilia switched from piano performance to music education, and hasn’t looked back since! 

Seattle fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld’s vibrant, expressive playing is voiced in a wide range of traditional fiddle styles, from Celtic, American Old-Time, and French Canadian, Scandinavian, and Eastern European. She has performed and taught widely throughout the US, Europe, and South America. During her 15 year sojourn in New England, Ruthie studied at Berklee College of Music, was a member of the twin fiddle stringband The Poodles, the bluegrass band Boston City Limits, the Hungarian band The Pulis, was a mainstay on the contra dance circuit, and toured Europe with tapdancer Ira Bernstein and with the Copenhagen-based American Cafe Orchestra. Since returning to the Pacific Northwest in 1996, she has been a member of the French cabaret group Rouge, performs with guitar master John Miller, with the quintet Tangoheart, and for local contra and English dancing.

Kate Falconer is a performer, educator and music producer based in Seattle, WA. She is a Stranger Genius Award Nominee, a celebrated beat maker and producer, classical multi-instrumentalist and fierce performer at major festivals and venues across the Pacific Northwest.  Working as a private instructor and teaching artist for almost 20 years has enabled Kate to share her love of music, audio and digital production with people of all ages.  She is specifically interested in increasing equity, access and knowledge for people who might otherwise not have the opportunity or confidence to explore new facets of their musical experience. 

Silas Berlin is a 2021 graduate of Cornish College of the Arts and is excited to be on the teaching end of table this time. Silas maintains a private teaching practice in the Seattle area. He enjoys a dual involvement with The Ladies Musical Club of Seattle as a public performer and board member. Winner of the silver medal in the 2021 Seattle Bach festival and gold medal of the 2022 Seattle Russian Music Competition, he is also experienced in jazz and in settings such as cocktail parties. Silas graciously welcomes the full circle opportunity of teaching at Cornish.

A freelance flutist, artist, improviser, and composer in the Seattle area, Leanna Keith delights in creating sound experiences that make audiences laugh, cry, and say: “I didn’t know the flute could do that!”  She also teaches as the flute professor at Cornish College of the Arts. Her performance artworks have focused on cultural connection and the breaking of audience/performer boundaries. In 2021 she released her first solo album, TAROT Album, which she composed, performed, recorded, and mixed. The album release show premiered online, featuring collaborations between choreographers, digital media artists, stop motion artists, puppetry, and more.

Leanna is currently a co-director of the chamber music ensemble Kin of the Moon, with violist/improviser Heather Bentley and composer/vocalist Kaley Lane Eaton. Kin of the Moon is an improvisation-centric, technology-friendly chamber music series incubated in Seattle's rich musical scene. The series explores sonic rituals, promotes cross-pollination of genres, emphasizes the communicative power of specific performance locales, and celebrates the creativity that multiplies itself through the collaboration of performers and composers.