Elena Zoubareva
Encyclopedia
Elena Zoubareva is a Russian American soprano
specializing in opera and classical crossover. Zoubareva is also a voice
expert and a creator of the FitVoice program
Born in Russia and educated at Moscow State University and Berklee College of Music, Elena has performed in concert halls in Europe and the United States, including the Russian Theatre Academy, Moscow Army Theater, JFK Library, Berklee College of Music
and the Boston Conservatory.
Her most recent CD, Allure, was produced by Jonathan Wyner. Elena’s recording of Ennio Morricone
’s song C’era una volta il West (Once upon a Time in the West) from the Allure album reached the top song in Opera
and Holiday Classical Categories on CDBaby.
, the second child of Ivan Zoubarev, a Soviet military conductor
, and Zarema Zoubareva, (née Plieva, of a prominent Ossetian
family) a lawyer. Many of Zoubareva's relatives on her father's side are artists and musicians, including her aunts: the late Irina Kalik, a ballerina at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, Galina Soboleva, a music critic and a publishing author and Elena G. Zoubareva, a radio music editor.
When she was one year old, Zoubareva's family moved to East Germany, where her father worked with Soviet military orchestras. In 1977 Ivan Zoubarev was awarded the title Distinguished Artist of Russia. In 1980 the family moved to Moscow, Soviet Union. Zoubareva's early music education was overseen by her father. She learned to read music before learning to read words. At the age of 6 she entered a formal music school, studying classical singing, piano, ear training, harmony and history of music. Since the beginning of her formal music education, Zoubareva has been specialised in audiation, which refers to the ability to mentally remember and hear music, without the actual physical presence of sound.
At the age of 8 she sang the title role in a children's opera Little Thumbelina. At the age of 15 she performed at the Moscow Army Theater.
In 1987 after graduating from Boris Tchaikovsky Moscow Music school Zoubareva was accepted simultaneously at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College in Moscow to study classical singing and at Moscow State University to study journalism. In 1989 Ivan Zoubarev died of lung cancer at the age of 56. As a result of a psychological trauma Elena developed functional dysphonia
. The lack of a comprehensive treatment in the still-Soviet Union resulted in ultimate loss of her voice which forced Zoubareva in 1990 to quit Music College and pause her singing career.
Struggling with the realities of then-economically depressed Russia, Elena turned to housecleaning as a way to make a living. Within five years she completed her studies at Moscow State University to earn a Masters Degree in Journalism, and founded her own import business, a company called InterMeat.
In 1999 she went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA on a full scholarship. Zoubareva consistently made the Dean's List and in 2003 graduated cum laude. Elena's teachers at Berklee included, among others, her voice professor Kathryn Wright and her stage performance technique teacher, Livingston Taylor
. Upon graduation, Zoubareva recorded and released her first full-length CD, La Tempesta Di Mare.
In New England, Elena’s career continued to grow, as she performs at such venues as the JFK Library, Berklee College of Music and the Boston Conservatory. In 2006 she sang at the Springtime Gala, the event raised over $2 million to benefit students and adults of Cardinal Cushing Centers, Inc.
In 2009 Zoubareva recorded her second CD, Allure, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Jonathan Wyner, of M-Works.
Elena recorded Ennio Morricone
's song "C’era una volta il West" (Once upon a Time in the West) from the Allure album, which for two months in 2011 was the top song in Opera and Holiday Classical categories on CD Baby.
Zoubareva has been interested in vocal health for many years, participating actively and conducting her own professional research, resulting in developing the FitVoice program, designed to educate American people about vocal health and correct usage of their speaking voices, even teaching Red Sox fans how to cheer correctly and analyzing the speaking voices of TV personalities, politicians and celebrities.
She has collaborated with Harvard ENT Dr. Phillip Song and speech language pathologist Keiko Ishikawa of Harvard/Mass Eye and Ear to learn about the medical implications of singing and speaking, vocal health, cutting edge vocal rehabilitation and the latest professional voice-related research studies. With the FitVoice Zoubareva appeared in the media, including Oprah Radio, ABC News
, The Callie Crossley Show
on WGBH (FM)
, All Things Considered on NPR/WBUR
, The Boston Globe
, 7 WHDH , The Boston Herald, and The Boston Phoenix. The Boston Herald called Zoubareva "Boston's own voice expert"
Zoubareva's business partner and manager is Kaitlyn Siner. Together they operate ArtistSolutions, a full-fledged consulting, marketing and business development company where Zoubareva is Creative Advisor.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
specializing in opera and classical crossover. Zoubareva is also a voice
Voice
Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
expert and a creator of the FitVoice program
Born in Russia and educated at Moscow State University and Berklee College of Music, Elena has performed in concert halls in Europe and the United States, including the Russian Theatre Academy, Moscow Army Theater, JFK Library, Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
and the Boston Conservatory.
Her most recent CD, Allure, was produced by Jonathan Wyner. Elena’s recording of Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
’s song C’era una volta il West (Once upon a Time in the West) from the Allure album reached the top song in Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and Holiday Classical Categories on CDBaby.
Early life and education
Elena Zoubareva was born in Alma-Ata, Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the second child of Ivan Zoubarev, a Soviet military conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and Zarema Zoubareva, (née Plieva, of a prominent Ossetian
Ossetian
Ossetian may refer to:* The Ossetian language* A member of the Ossetian people* A person from the region of Ossetia...
family) a lawyer. Many of Zoubareva's relatives on her father's side are artists and musicians, including her aunts: the late Irina Kalik, a ballerina at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, Galina Soboleva, a music critic and a publishing author and Elena G. Zoubareva, a radio music editor.
When she was one year old, Zoubareva's family moved to East Germany, where her father worked with Soviet military orchestras. In 1977 Ivan Zoubarev was awarded the title Distinguished Artist of Russia. In 1980 the family moved to Moscow, Soviet Union. Zoubareva's early music education was overseen by her father. She learned to read music before learning to read words. At the age of 6 she entered a formal music school, studying classical singing, piano, ear training, harmony and history of music. Since the beginning of her formal music education, Zoubareva has been specialised in audiation, which refers to the ability to mentally remember and hear music, without the actual physical presence of sound.
At the age of 8 she sang the title role in a children's opera Little Thumbelina. At the age of 15 she performed at the Moscow Army Theater.
In 1987 after graduating from Boris Tchaikovsky Moscow Music school Zoubareva was accepted simultaneously at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College in Moscow to study classical singing and at Moscow State University to study journalism. In 1989 Ivan Zoubarev died of lung cancer at the age of 56. As a result of a psychological trauma Elena developed functional dysphonia
Dysphonia
Dysphonia is the medical term for disorders of the voice: an impairment in the ability to produce voice sounds using the vocal organs . Thus, dysphonia is a phonation disorder...
. The lack of a comprehensive treatment in the still-Soviet Union resulted in ultimate loss of her voice which forced Zoubareva in 1990 to quit Music College and pause her singing career.
Struggling with the realities of then-economically depressed Russia, Elena turned to housecleaning as a way to make a living. Within five years she completed her studies at Moscow State University to earn a Masters Degree in Journalism, and founded her own import business, a company called InterMeat.
Career
Zoubareva’s voice gradually returned several years later and she resumed private lessons with Lydia Kovaleva, a former star of the Bolshoi Opera Theater. Zoubareva credits Madame Kovaleva for fully restoring her voice. In 1998 Zoubareva visited the US for the first time on a business trip under the invitation of the US Meat Export Federation. At the end of the trip she arranged a consultation with a renowned US voice instructor Dave Stroud. Impressed with Zoubareva's voice and interpretive abilities, Stroud encouraged her to restore her professional singing career.In 1999 she went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA on a full scholarship. Zoubareva consistently made the Dean's List and in 2003 graduated cum laude. Elena's teachers at Berklee included, among others, her voice professor Kathryn Wright and her stage performance technique teacher, Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor is an American singer-songwriter, born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He attended the Westtown School in Pennsylvania...
. Upon graduation, Zoubareva recorded and released her first full-length CD, La Tempesta Di Mare.
In New England, Elena’s career continued to grow, as she performs at such venues as the JFK Library, Berklee College of Music and the Boston Conservatory. In 2006 she sang at the Springtime Gala, the event raised over $2 million to benefit students and adults of Cardinal Cushing Centers, Inc.
In 2009 Zoubareva recorded her second CD, Allure, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Jonathan Wyner, of M-Works.
Elena recorded Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
's song "C’era una volta il West" (Once upon a Time in the West) from the Allure album, which for two months in 2011 was the top song in Opera and Holiday Classical categories on CD Baby.
Zoubareva has been interested in vocal health for many years, participating actively and conducting her own professional research, resulting in developing the FitVoice program, designed to educate American people about vocal health and correct usage of their speaking voices, even teaching Red Sox fans how to cheer correctly and analyzing the speaking voices of TV personalities, politicians and celebrities.
She has collaborated with Harvard ENT Dr. Phillip Song and speech language pathologist Keiko Ishikawa of Harvard/Mass Eye and Ear to learn about the medical implications of singing and speaking, vocal health, cutting edge vocal rehabilitation and the latest professional voice-related research studies. With the FitVoice Zoubareva appeared in the media, including Oprah Radio, ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, The Callie Crossley Show
Callie Crossley
Callie Crossley is an American journalist and host of "The Callie Crossley Show", a one-hour daily talk show on WGBH-FM, 89.7. She talks with guests about local and national politics, public affairs, arts and culture...
on WGBH (FM)
WGBH (FM)
WGBH is a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts. WGBH is a member station of NPR and PRI. The license-holder is the WGBH Educational Foundation, which also owns WGBH-TV and WGBX-TV....
, All Things Considered on NPR/WBUR
WBUR
WBUR refers to two radio stations in Massachusetts, WBUR AM and FM, both owned by Boston University. WBUR is the largest of three NPR member stations in Boston, Massachusetts, along with WGBH and WUMB-FM, and the only one to focus exclusively on news and talk...
, The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
, 7 WHDH , The Boston Herald, and The Boston Phoenix. The Boston Herald called Zoubareva "Boston's own voice expert"
Zoubareva's business partner and manager is Kaitlyn Siner. Together they operate ArtistSolutions, a full-fledged consulting, marketing and business development company where Zoubareva is Creative Advisor.