instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, improviser
Marina’s identity as a musician is shaped by her hodgepodge musical upbringing: a confluence of influences that span western classical music, minimalism, fiddle tunes, and folksong. Today, her creative endeavors lie in finding new ways to bring together violin-generated soundworlds with traditional folk musics and original works. Her music is deeply rooted in a sense of place, influenced by surroundings, seasonal cycles, and reflections on what it means to be ‘home.’
Marina grew up in Big Bear, California, immersed in orchestras and chamber music from a young age. She was a frequently gigging quartet musician by high school and began teaching private violin lessons in 2015. Marina traveled with the MountainTop Strings Camerata for performances touring Italy in 2016 and 2017 and a showcase at Carnegie Hall in 2017.
In 2018, she moved to Seattle, Washington to study music at Cornish College of the Arts. In her time at Cornish, her musical world expanded to include contemporary chamber music, experimental music, improvisation, songwriting, and folk music. She studied with mentors including Ruthie Dornfeld (fiddle), Kaley Lane Eaton (composition/songwriting), Ha-Yang Kim (composition/improvisation), and Michael Jinsoo Lim (violin). Marina graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2022. She was a recipient of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (HFAA) instrument loan program from 2022-2024.
Marina is active with the Seattle-based indie-folk trio “The Friendship Quilt.”