Gaiana

Gaiana Mndoian is an accomplished cellist and teacher who graduated from, and later taught at the post-graduate level at, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow under the direction of maestro Mstislav Rostropovich. In Russia she directed a cello program at a college affiliated with the Conservatory and created an ensemble of young cello virtuosos that performed at the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and she gave international cello seminars in France.

As a performer she was principal cellist with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra (1998-1999) and a member of the San Diego Symphony, toured Japan with the L'Amoroso Strings Quartet, and recorded a CD of romantic works for cello and piano. A devoted teacher, she has taught at The Bishop's School and Francis Parker and, since 2023, at Belle Melodie; her former students include Denis Shapovalov, first-place winner at the 1998 International Tchaikovsky Competition.