Background

A native of Latvia, Ilona Kudina currently performs and teaches in New England and spends time between Boston and New York. After having performed widely in Europe, she came to the country known as the "cradle of jazz" in 2001. Ilona graduated from the Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia, where she received her Masters degree in flute performance. She has participated in concerts at the Academy and the Latvian Philharmonic with solo performances and as a flutist of various chamber ensembles and jazz groups. She also toured for concerts in Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, The Netherlands, and England. During the 2000-2001 season, Ilona was an Orchestra Artist (flute, piccolo) in the National Symphony Orchestra of Latvia. In March 2000, she competed in the World Scholarship tour of the Berklee College of Music in Helsinki and subsequently was awarded with a scholarship. Since September 2001 she has lived in Boston, MA and graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Diploma in Performance in May 2003. She was awarded with a Myrna Brown Scholarship by the National Flute Association for her participation and performance in the 2002 National Flute Convention in Washington, D.C. Ilona is active as a soloist, teacher and recording artist. She performs with "Ilona's Jazz Quartet" while also playing classical and contemporary music projects. Recent teaching engagements include the Brimmer and May School's After School Music Program in Chestnut Hill, MA and the Boston Center for Adult Education.