Erika Miranda - Director/Violin/Viola (USA) trained in the USA, (San Francisco Conservatory of Music, St. Louis Conservatory of Music), UK (Anglo-American Chamber Music for Strings in England), Canada (Johanessen International School for the Arts) and France (European Community Baroque Orchestra). She lived and worked in England for many years taking additional training with Kato Haves in Oxford. For seven years, Erika was Principal Second for English Festival Opera as well as playing for orchestras such as London Schubert Players, London Apollo Orchestra, and the City Oxford Orchestra touring and recording with these ensembles. While living in Oxford she became a Founder/Director of her own ensemble and established two highly sucessful concert series in collaboration with (and sponsored by) the Oxford City Council and local buisnesses. Ms. Miranda has also adjudicated for concertmaster auditions at Oxford University. Ten years ago she returned to the States where she has been on the faculty and directed programs for the musically eminent Crowden School in Berkely, California and has developed a highly respected violin studio with many prize-winning students. She has also acted as Interim Director for the Sacramento Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program in 2002 and for the last three years has been Head of Strings for the Berkeley Youth Orchestra and helped implement and direct their chamber music program. She is the founding director of Youth Music International which brings together highly gifted young musicians from different countries for a unique chamber music experience (www.YouthMusicInternational.com ). In 2006 YMI launched The First International Youth Music Festival in San Francisco and in 2007 in Oxford, UK. As a collaboration with SF State University's School of Music and Dance, the festival brings together an eminent international faculty as well as up to 60 highly gifted students from California and Britain. After masterclasses with internationally renowned Guest Artists, the festival culminates with diverse and unforgettable performances in the most historic and prestigious landmarks in San Francisco and Oxford : Grace Cathedral, Mission Dolores and St. Mary's Cathedral (SF), and Christ Church Cathedral, University Church and Wesley Memorial Church (Oxford). Erika has also been Principal for the Sacramento Opera and Choral Society for the last eight years and also a member of several orchestras and chamber music ensembles in the San Francisco Bay Area.