Joanna Marie

There's not a whole lot of entertainment to be had without enthusiasm. My delivery relies on enthusiasm, and not in just over-the-top, boisterous deliveries, but the low-key ones too. Commitment, which consists of a willingness to improve, breeds talent. Some people are born with natural talent, but if they don't identify their weaknesses and improve upon them, they'll hit a wall quickly. Talent is specific to each type of entertainer. I also believe in confidence. Confidence enables me to put on a believable act. It makes my delivery convincing and makes whatever scene you're in entertaining. Without confidence, my movements seem stiff, my words drip with nervousness and uncertainty and I'm unable to really tap into the talents I have. Confidence comes partly from practice and knowing that I have the talent to entertain and partly from a mindset that pushes away doubt and worry. I believe it is also important to have a creative and imaginative mind.

Born in Sacramento, California in August 1996, Joanna grew up in a musical household. When her parents immigrated to America from Russia in 1992 they made sure not to leave behind their musical background and took their accordion and guitar along with them. Her parents provided Joanna with violin lessons starting at the age of 5 and not long after, she began piano lessons as well. Spending most of her childhood and teen years in church, she was raised on traditional gospel music where she accompanied a youth choir on piano starting at the age of 12. At 16, Joanna began her college career in music. While studying in school, she was involved in numerous missionary trips in Europe during the summers of 13’, 14’, and 15’. During these trips, she served as a worship leader in youth camps in many cities across Belarus where she sang and played the guitar. In 2015, Joanna made her first debut as a soloist when she performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the American River College Orchestra. She graduated in May 2017 with a Bachelors in Violin Performance from Sacramento State University where she studied with Anna Presler. Since her graduation, Joanna has moved on to getting her Masters in Music at San Diego State University where she is currently studying with Pei Chun Tsai. Joanna not only loves to perform, she also loves to teach. She was a teacher assistant in the String Project at Sacramento State where she taught beginning violin and cello for two years. Her dream is to travel and share the gift of music. Her previous missionary trips inspire her to serve underprivileged villages across Belarus where she can teach young children how to play musical instruments.

I prefer calm lighting, perhaps a spot light on me or the instrument every now and then to draw the attention on the act. Staging must require a piano, preferably a grand but keyboard is also fine. Two microphone stands one set up at the piano for singing and one set up for violin. I prefer a bit of reverb in the sound, not too loud or overbearing but just right. I may have a few instrumentals prepared as well that can be played from my phone through an aux chord for my violin pieces and singing.