Marina

About Your Teacher

Mrs. Kuzmenkov began her musical career in the second grade as a cellist with the Minsk School of Music in Belarus. She was influenced greatly by her early cello instructor, noted musician Natalia Shpeneva, and decided to make music her profession. Mrs. Kuzmenkov soon became involved in numerous string ensemble competitions, many of which were televised nationally.

Between 1980 and 1990, Mrs. Kuzmenkov studied at the Minsk State College of Music and the Belarus State Conservatory. She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music Education and Orchestra Performance.

Between 1990 and 1997, Mrs. Kuzmenkov was a full time teacher of cello and ensemble performance at School of Music No. 1 in Minsk, Belarus.

In 1997 Mrs. Kuzmenkov became a member of the Belarus State Philharmonic Orchestra. As an orchestra player, she performed with celebrity musicians like Dora Shvartsberg, Nikolay Petrov, Aleksandr Kniazev, as well as legendary rock band Scorpions. From 1997 to 2000, she toured Spain, France and Switzerland.

Mrs. Kuzmenkov has also performed regularly with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra. Her first public appearance with the orchestra took place October 7, 2007 at Isaac Stern Auditorium in New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

Mrs. Kuzmenkov is also a noted chamber musician and cellist in the "Agitato Strings" classical trio/quartet, with whom she has performed at many of New York and New Jersey’s most glamorous venues, including the Plaza and Ritz Hotel, Metropolitan Club, Abigail Kirsch in Tarrytown, NY and The Chanticler in Short Hills, NJ.

Mrs. Kuzmenkov offers classes at a private studio in Fair Lawn, NJ. She has also taught for the Fair Lawn Summer Music enrichment program as the String Orchestra Director.

See Marina performing on the stage at YouTube