Elina Chekan

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Elina Chekan studied with Valeriy Gromov and Eugene Gridiushko in her native country and with Benjamin Verdery at Yale University where she attained her Master of Music degree. Ms. Chekan has performed extensively in Europe and the United States as a soloist and chamber musician. A prizewinner in several international guitar competitions, she also received the Louis and Anne Rosoff award from Yale University.Elina is a certified Suzuki Method instructor, registered with the Suzuki Association of Americas. Renowned Argentinean Composer Jorge Morel dedicated one of his recent compositions to Ms. Chekan. Elina was artist in residence and faculty at the Bloomingdale School of Music in New York City, and Chair of the Guitar Department at the Belarus Music Academy in Minsk. She is currently on the faculty at UWM where she directs the Pre-College Division’s Guitar Program.