Vera Volchansky, described by colleagues as a conductor of “impeccable taste,” whose “artistic ability transforms a performance into a meaningful event,” serves as Director of Orchestras and Assistant Professor at the Millersville University.  Ms. Volchansky holds a master’s degree from the Eastman School and a doctorate from the University of Kansas.  A winner of the Fulbright Award, in 2008 she traveled to St. Petersburg to explore the unknown music of the twentieth century Russian composers.  She was named a conducting fellow with the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen, working with David Zinman.  Ms. Volchansky has worked with orchestras and various instrumental and choral ensembles in Russia, Eastern Europe and the United States. She was featured in the Vespers Concert at the Lied Center of Kansas, and directed six performances of Guys and Dolls at the University of Kansas.  She has performed with the Hot Springs Festival Orchestra, the Academy of Conducting Orchestra at Aspen, Constanta Opera in Romania, Parnu City Orchestra in Estonia, Congress Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Russia, and KU Symphony Orchestra, among others. In 2010 she took part in a workshop working with the Richmond Symphony.  Maintaining an active schedule as a violinist, she appeared as a soloist, served as a first violinist of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and taught at Mercyhurst College in the Conservatory division, and D’Angelo Summer Music Festival.  Ms. Volchansky began studying violin with her father Vitaly at the age of six in Volgograd, Russia.