Faculty

Ukrainian born musician Solomia Gorokhivska is recognized performer and educator in DMV area. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC and Master of Music Performance and Education from the National Music Academy in Ukraine. Solomia Gorokhivska frequently performs in USA and internationally including Canada, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, Poland, Serbia, and China. She has been a featured as a performer and an anchor in several Radio and TV broadcasts in both Ukraine and USA and has played with various orchestras in Europe and the United States. Dr.Gorokhivska regularly performs with National Philharmonic, Washington Choral Society Orchestra, Alexandria Symphony, Washington Concert Opera, American Festival Pops Orchestra, Manhattan Symphonie, and International Chamber Orchestra. Her recent appearances include the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Maryland Hall, Library of Congress, the George Mason Center for the Arts, the Department of State, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Salisbury University, Georgetown University, the Embassy of Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Russia, World Bank, IMF and multiple K-12 public and private schools in Washington Metropolitan area. Dr.Gorokhivska teaches violin, viola, piano and voice. In addition to individual instruction, she established and leads DCMA chamber orchestra. As an educator, Dr. Solomia Gorokhivska strives to guide others to a deeper understanding of music’s expressive power. Her exceptional skills and collegial approach in teaching make her students distinguished and successful in their musical and non -musical careers.

Grammy winner Andrei Pidkivka is a prominent teacher, performer, and maker of a variety of folk flutes of his native Ukraine. Their sounds attracted listeners across the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. His world flutes have found a way into numerous instrumental works, modern symphonic compositions, theatrical performances, ballet, and movie scores. Andrei Pidkivka has performed as a soloist and a guest musician with numerous symphony orchestras in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Performances include the Columbus Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Pittsburgh Symphony. Past performances include soundtracks for Broadway shows, Disney films, “The Lord of The Rings,” and “Medieval Times.” In 2020 he won a Grammy award as a producer for “Best Soundtrack” for the HBO series “Chornobyl”. In addition, in 2020 Dr. Andrei Pidkivka was recipient of Heritage Award from MD State Arts Council. He holds a Doctorate of Music Arts from Michigan State University. He is in high demand both as a maker of folk instruments and as a touring and recording artist. For the past twenty years, Dr. Andrei has been teaching woodwind instruments and piano. Additionally, he coaches a variety of chamber groups and bands in private and academic settings.

Roman Mykyta is a professional choreographer and dancer with deep expertise in character styling and techniques. He developed an interest in Ukrainian dancing at an early age and soon after began studying ballet in both in the Cecchetti Method and in the Vaganova Ballet Techinque. In 2014, he began his professional career, joining the Ballet Theatre of Maryland under the artistic direction of Dianna Cuatto, where he danced for three seasons. Throughout his career, he has maintained an emphasis on deepening his knowledge in character and folklorique styles and techniques and actively collaborates with the Gerdan Ukrainian / World Music Ensemble of Washington DC. In 2017, Roman moved to Kyiv, Ukraine to study dance pedagogy and choreography with the National Pedagogical University Dragomanova. In Ukraine, he also had the opportunity to study as a guest at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, to work with the Studio Company of the Virsky National Ukrainian Folk Ensemble in Kyiv and to perform with the Horlytsya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in Kyiv and the Yunist Honored Ukrainian Folk Ensemble in Lviv. In 2021, Roman returned to Maryland where he continues to choreograph, perform and teach throughout the Washington DC Metro area and is well regarded for his expertise.

Violinist Yuna Kim was born in Seoul, Korea. She started playing violin at age 3 and studied violin performance at Yewon Arts School and Seoul Arts High School. Kim moved to the United States and continued studying at the New England Conservatory of Music with James Buswell and Nicholas Kitchen and then at the University of Maryland with David Salness. Kim has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra and Seoul Symphony Orchestra. Currently Ms.Kim is an active performer and string educator in the DMV area.

Bulgarian flutist Yana Nikol passionately embraces jazz and world music while expanding on her extensive classical training. She is an active freelancer in the DMV area, participating in various projects and ensembles that incorporate a vast array of musical genres. She is also the creator and leader of Project Locrea - a global music ensemble dedicated to creating and performing original compositions and contemporary arrangements inspired by the traditional music of different countries. Yana has performed at The Mansion at Strathmore, The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Blues Alley Jazz Club, George Mason University Center for the Arts, Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club, and Twins Jazz club among others. Yana holds flute performance degrees from the National Academy of Music in Bulgaria (BM) and the University of South Florida (MM) where she was presented with an Outstanding Merit Award in “recognition of outstanding student citizenship and exemplary performance during the 2007-08 academic year.” She recently completed two years of postgraduate studies at George Mason University, which included jazz lessons with Kenneth Rittenhouse (member of The United States Army “Blues” Jazz Ensemble).