Accordionist Elena Fainshtein and trombonist Lucas Kaspar will present a unique concert on April 5, 2024 at Lone Star College at 2:PM. The college is located at 20000 Kingwood drive, Kingwood, TX 77339. Their performances will include compositions by Lucas Kaspar, Stas Venglevski, Gorka Hermosa and Ricardo Arbiza.

They formed the TromboKordion Duo in 2023 performing recitals at Southwest Oklahoma State University and Lone Star College in 2024. Elena and Lucas will be performing at full recital at the 2024 Accordionists and Teachers Guild-International Festival. TromboKordion can be heard on Illusions, a new album of music for bass trombone and saxophone. The album was recorded in 2023 and will be released later in 2024.

Elena’s additional concerts include April 19, 2024 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University Department of Music, 109 W Davis Ave, Weatherford, OK. For tickets and information: 580-774-3708. Elena is a very versatile musician. She performed at the JCC for Purim and on March 31 at the Easter Service in her community. From May 24 to June 2, she will perform on accordion at the Plaza Theatre, 521 W State St,Garland,TX. “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Garland Community Theatre, Accordionist Elena Fainshtein is a well known and respected teacher, musician and an inspiration to all.

Elena is a warm, enthusiastic and approachable person. She shares, “I was born in Belarus, which was part of the Soviet Union. I never knew my grandparents who died in World War 2. My parents met in the orphanage they grew up in and both dedicated their lives to teaching. As a child, I liked to read, draw, and have kid fun like every other child. At the age of five I was stung by a hive of wasps, and lost my ability to speak after having a horrible reaction and being in a complete state of shock. I became mute. I remember my dad taking me to many doctors and therapists, trying to find any possible way to help me get my voice back. For a whole year he was seeking the best doctors while hoping for a miracle. The verdict he received was troubling to him, but as a child I did not realize the seriousness of the matter…”Your daughter will never speak again…” he was told.

“I remember taking the train with my father from Moscow to Minsk one day, I remember seeing tears running down his cheeks and seeing a lady approach him to hear our story. The lady, who I have never met since, advised him to buy a musical instrument, believing that music can help restore my ability to speak. A few days later he brought home a suitcase; I was thinking that it was time to go to see another doctor so I started to cry. He then opened the suitcase and I looked in and saw the button accordion for the first time in my life! I grabbed it, pressed the buttons & to my delight the accordion made a sound so I repeated this sound with my voice, and shouted to my dad “thaaank yyoouu.” I remember my mom, when I was trying to say something and started stuttering. She was telling me “Elena, take your accordion and sing everything that you want to say” and I did.

I first took private lessons and then attended the School for Gifted Kids in Minsk, Belarus, where my second instrument of choice was piano. Then, I went to the Minsk Music College, graduating with the highest grades possible. After music college, I attended the Academy of Music in Minsk, from which I graduated in 1987. At the age of 17 at music college I began playing as an Accordion Duo with my classmate, Gregory Fainshtein, who became my husband and music partner for life and the rest is history!”

Since their school days, Gregory and Elena performed concerts all over the world, including Belarus, Russia, Georgia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Germany, Israel, and the United States. They performed at all NAA conventions, and in 2013 and 2015, performed together at the ATG. In 2014, they performed at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention (LVIAC). In 2019, Elena was able to take one of her top accordion students, Elijah Clements to LVAC, where Elijah received a scholarship and they performed a concert. Many of her students have participated in and won in the Big Squeeze Accordion Competition over the years. Elena greatly inspires her students and provides them with opportunities to showcase their talents and accomplishments.

Elena Fainshtein has been teaching piano and accordion successfully for over 30 years in her home and on Skype, giving lessons in three different languages. She currently resides in Plano,Texas where she maintains a private home studio called Musical Expressions. Her Accordion School, Musical Expressions has resulted in several students’ success in national competitions, including accolades at the Big Squeeze Accordion contest, the Las Vegas Accordion Convention, the National Accordion Convention, and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild-International Festival. As a conductor, Elena established the Fainshtein Accordion Ensemble in 2013, which has grown to become a regularly performing accordion ensemble that is comprised of current and former students from all over the United States. The Fainshtein Accordion Ensemble recently performed at the Kawai Piano Gallery Concert Hall in Plano, TX. As a professional musician, Elena has been recognized recently by the Dallas Morning News and Ted Talk.

Dr. Lucas Kaspar is Assistant Professor of Low Brass and Concert Band at Cameron University in Lawton Oklahoma. Dr. Kaspar completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Trombone Performance from The Ohio State University in 2018 and his Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Alabama in 2013. Dr. Kaspar is a sought-after trombonist. He has performed with many premier orchestras in the United States, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, Columbus Symphony, Mobile Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Mobile Symphony, and many more.

Kaspar was recently an adjudicator for the George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition, held at the 2023 International Trombone Festival. He has performed as a soloist numerous times at the Big 12 National Trombone Conference and International Trombone Festival. Kaspar will be performing with Cramer Trombone Choir at the 2024 International Trombone Festival. Before teaching at Cameron University, Dr. Kaspar served as a Lecturer of Music at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio for 7 years. While at Muskingum University, Kaspar taught low brass, pep band, and jazz ensemble. He has also been on the faculty at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where he taught applied low brass.

Dr. Michael Johnson, composer of “Opa’s Yodel” is currently the Director of Bands at Lone Star College in Kingwood, TX. He conducts the Kingwood Winds, Kingwood Jazz Ensemble, Kingwood Jazz Combo, and coaches student chamber ensembles. Previously, Dr. Johnson was an adjunct faculty at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and Shelton State Community College. As a private instructor, his students have had numerous accomplishments in all-state band, all-state orchestra, and various regional honor bands and music festivals. Dr. Johnson is also a sought-after brass instructor, working with band programs all over Alabama and several areas in Austin and San Marcos during his master’s degree in Texas.

As a performer, Dr. Johnson was recently a member of the Alabama Winds, an all-adult professional wind ensemble based in Birmingham, AL. A member from 2017-2023, Michael performed with the Alabama Winds at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Alabama Music Educators Association, the Western International Band Clinic, and various state honor band festivals in Alabama and Tennessee. An avid jazz musician, Michael was the lead trombone player with the Tuscaloosa Big Band.

He has performed with several jazz bands across Alabama and Texas such as the Republic of Texas Big Band, Gabriel Santiago Orchestra, NOW Jazz Orchestra, Rocket City Big Band, Jazz Inc., Silvery Moon Big Band, and several others. Michael was a guest soloist with the Austin Civic Orchestra in 2018 and has performed with orchestras such as the Laredo Philharmonic, Tuscaloosa Symphony, and Meridian Symphony Orchestra and more.

As a composer, Dr. Johnson has a broad portfolio of works for brass and solos with fixed media. He has had pieces performed at Midwest and AMEA, as well as several premieres by collegiate trombone choirs. Michael has also composed music for a few commercial projects including special music for Texas State University’s submission to the 2016 Global News Relay and marketing videos for Shelton State’s fine arts program. Some of his original compositions and arrangements can be heard on albums by Jonathan Whitaker (University of Alabama), Peter Ellefson (Indiana University), and Martin McCain (Texas State University). Dr. Johnson holds degrees from the University of Alabama (DMA, BM) and Texas State University (MM). His primary instructors include Jonathan Whitaker, Martin McCain, Peter Ellefson, and Billy Bargetzi.

Accordionist Elena Fainshtein is a well known and respected teacher, musician and an inspiration to all. The accordion is an integral and highly important part of Elena’ life. She encompasses all aspects of the accordion and musical world: Performer, Teacher, Arranger, Mentor, valued member of accordion organizations such as ATG and more. She helps her students actualize their musical potential in a meaningful, kind and practical way.

For further information: elena.fainshtein@gmail.com