Elena Maque new Saxophone instructor at Live Music Academy

Its a great honor to introduce our new Saxophone Instructor at Live Music Academy this fall. Elena is an inspiring musician and great teacher. Its our pleasure to welcome her to our team of faculty. Here is her story, so you may get to know her better. 

Growing up in a rich cultural center of Russia, St.-Petersburg , Elena Maque was always drawn to art. Her parents made their goal to give their four children musical  education besides regular school. Elena`s first instrument was piano, which she started playing at the age six.  Given foundation in classical music, she started showing a lot of interest in improvisation. By her teenage years Elena became fascinated with jazz music  which eventually determined her switch to saxophone.  

 Great passion for jazz as she entered Mussorgsky College of Music in St.Petersburg gave way to many musical collaborations and projects in the future. Being a student of legendary russian jazz giant Gennady Golshtein she was offered to join his big band "Saxophones of St.Petersburg" which carried in it some of the finest musicians of the city. Here Elena would get her major experience with working in a fast paced big band and  studio work .

 Alongside school and jazz band , Elena was consistently playing in a local church band where she would develop her skills in gospel and funk styles. Her interest in funk grew as she was mentored by a renowned saxophonist, her inspirator and a good friend in Latvia,Riga - Dennis Pashkevich.

 Combining classical music, jazz, funk led Elena to creating a unique and individual style. She started working with famous russian and european Djs as well as her own quartet playing jazzy house, soul and electro funk in Russia and Europe.

 After moving to the US  Elena Maque continued her music journey. Here she  was deeply influenced by her new friend and mentor, Alexey Nikolaev. Elena has been playing with various Seattle musicians as well as working on her own compositions and teaching saxophone for the past several years.

  Elena Maque has always worked on developing and evolving her individuality in music. Desire  to create music that would show her european roots, deep love for jazz and vast experience in electro sound inspired Elena to form her current band, MaqueAttack.

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