Short Bio - 300 Words.
Alisa Roberta Gukasian (she/her) is a classical violinist and educator based in Southern California. She is currently pursuing her graduate diploma in Violin Performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where she studies with Professors Varty Manouelian and Movses Pogossian.
A passionate advocate for culturally rooted music education, Alisa is an AMP Fellow with UCLA’s Armenian Music Program, where she is studying the kamancha. Through the program’s outreach efforts, she visits local schools like Hoover Street Elementary to introduce Armenian folk music and the violin to students in low-income communities.
Alisa’s teaching practice is rooted in technical clarity, emotional expression, and patient mentorship. She has taught students of all levels in both private and group settings, helping them grow as musicians and individuals. She is also a strong believer in the intersection of music and history, which she explored during her time as a Whitsett Smithsonian Fellow at the National Museum of American History. There, she developed a mock exhibit focused on violin pedagogy, immigrant contributions to American music, and emerging technologies in education.
She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in History and Violin Performance from California State University Northridge (CSUN), where she graduated with honors. During her time there, she served as Assistant Concertmaster of the CSUN Symphony and performed as part of the Beethoven Piano Trio.
Originally from Moscow, Russia, Alisa began violin studies at the Chopin Academy before moving to the United States, where she continued her training under Joe Ketendjian and at the Colburn School. Outside of music, she enjoys time with family, reading Jane Austen, and long walks in nature.
Mini Bio - 150
Words.
Alisa Roberta Gukasian (she/her) is a classical violinist and educator based in Southern California. She is currently pursuing her graduate diploma in Violin Performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, studying with Professors Varty Manouelian and Movses Pogossian.
She earned two undergraduate degrees—a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Strings—from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she also served as Assistant Concertmaster of the CSUN Symphony Orchestra. As the school’s first Whitsett Smithsonian Fellow, she lived and worked in Washington, D.C., developing a violin-focused exhibit on pedagogy, immigrant musicians, and accessibility in music education.
Alisa is an AMP Fellow with UCLA’s Armenian Music Program, where she studies the kamancha and participates in outreach at schools like Hoover Street Elementary. She is dedicated to inclusive, culturally rooted music education that empowers students and builds community through performance and connection.
Long Bio - 600
Words.
Alisa Roberta Gukasian (she/her) is a classical violinist and educator based in Southern California. She is currently pursuing her graduate diploma in Violin Performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where she studies with Professors Varty Manouelian and Movses Pogossian.
In 2022, Ms. Gukasian graduated with honors from California State University Northridge (CSUN), earning a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Strings under the mentorship of Dr. Lorenz Gamma. During her time at CSUN, she served as Assistant Concertmaster of the CSUN Symphony Orchestra and first violinist of the Beethoven Piano Trio. She was named the school’s first Whitsett Smithsonian Fellow, which allowed her to live and work in Washington, D.C., at the National Museum of American History (NMAH).
At the Smithsonian, Alisa focused on collections research, creating a mock exhibit centered on the museum’s historic violin collection. The project highlighted the influence of 20th-century violin pedagogues, immigrant musicians in the U.S. classical landscape, and emerging technologies such as 3D-printed violins for public school access. Her work reflected her passion for education and music’s ability to bridge cultural and historical narratives.
While at CSUN, Alisa also contributed to curriculum development by helping create a chapter on Armenian music for the school’s ethnomusicology course. Drawing on both scholarly research and personal experience, she worked closely with faculty to design material that introduced students to Armenian musical traditions, instruments, and historical context—an effort that underscored her dedication to cultural education and inclusion.
Currently, Alisa is an AMP Fellow with UCLA’s Armenian Music Program, where she studies the kamancha, a traditional bowed instrument that connects her to her Armenian heritage. Through the program’s outreach efforts, she visits schools like Hoover Street Elementary, sharing Armenian folk music and violin performance with students from underserved communities. These experiences fuel her commitment to making music education culturally inclusive and widely accessible.
In addition to performing, Alisa is an experienced violin teacher dedicated to accessible and empowering music instruction. She currently teaches at both Orchestra Music Academy and Crescenta Academy, where she develops individualized and group curricula for students ranging from young beginners to senior learners. Her group classes focus on building ensemble skills, fostering confidence, and creating joyful entry points into music-making regardless of age or background. She is passionate about dismantling barriers to classical music and believes that everyone deserves the chance to grow through creative expression.
Alisa began her violin studies in Moscow, Russia, at the age of eight with Avetisyan Nvard Colakovna, continuing at the Chopin Academy until age twelve. After relocating to the United States, she studied privately with Joe Ketendjian, a longtime member of the Pacific Symphony and student of Dorothy DeLay. At age thirteen, she was accepted into the Colburn School’s Community Program, where she received extensive training in chamber music, orchestral playing, and music theory.
Raised by a single father, Alisa values resilience, empathy, and community—qualities that shape her artistry and teaching. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her extended Armenian family, reading Jane Austen, and finding inspiration on walks in nature.
Looking ahead, Alisa plans to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree with the goal of becoming a university professor and an active performer. She is committed to blending performance, education, and advocacy, and hopes to help shape the next generation of musicians through compassionate and culturally conscious teaching.
