About Melodia Mariposa

World Class Musicians
Unique Performance Experience
Up-Close and Personal

Mission

Melodia Mariposa’s mission is to create intimate and unpretentious classical music events; engaging diverse individuals and communities while fostering appreciation and education among all ages. This is accomplished through thoughtful, creative programming and performances by world-class musicians. We hope you’ll support us.

History

This 501(c)(3) non-profit music organization reflects the irrepressibly positive outlook of its founder and music director, Irina Voloshina. A violinist known around the globe for exquisite playing, she has been a soloist and concertmaster for countless orchestras and has worked on over 600 film scores with John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Hans Zimmer, to name a few.

Music moves, soothes, and excites at the same time and, for just a while, the audience unplugs, deleting the stress of the day. “It is our
goal to create appealing and accessible music for those who enjoy being closer to the musicians,” notes Irina.

She is passionate about bringing great music to every level of the citizenry. Irina produced Chamber Music concerts for nearly a decade before beginning the small “driveway concerts” engaging other musicians to play weekly for her neighborhood. She did it for over two years during a time when formal events were not possible. This is when she learned how much the community wanted this type of up-close delivery of beautiful music. She launched Melodia Mariposa with the support and encouragement of friends, family, and neighbors. The name, Melodia Mariposa, came from a contest where happy listeners submitted their ideas.

About Irina

Born in Odesa, Ukraine, Irina Voloshina had her first violin lesson at 6 years old. She studied at the Odessa Music School, the famous institution founded by Professor Stolyarsky early in the 20th century that brought to the world some of the greatest violin masters, such as Nathan Milstein and David Oistrakh. From there, Irina advanced into Odessa State Conservatory.

Graduated from the Conservatory with a master’s degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy, Voloshina played in the Odessa Philharmonic for nine years.

Since moving to Southern California in 1993, Irina has appeared in recitals, chamber music groups, and orchestras such as Pasadena Symphony and Pops, Los Angeles Opera, California Philharmonic, and Hollywood Bowl orchestras.

She has performed in over 600 film scores including those by John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Hans Zimmer, to name a few. She performed for “American Idol” and the “MTV Music Awards” and was a member of the Academy Awards orchestra. LA Times has described her playing as “a showcase of brilliant virtuosity.”

During the pandemic, Irina founded the “Melodia Mariposa” music series performing on the driveway of her Altadena home, presenting over 65 free public concerts. On July 24, 2021, she was named Volunteer of the Year and received the Congressional Leadership Awards: Hometown Heroes of the Pandemic in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the People of the 27th Congressional District from Congresswoman Judy Chu.

On December 21, 2022, Kathryn Barger, Supervisor of the 5th District of the County of Los Angeles awarded Irina and Melodia Mariposa with a commendation certificate in recognition of their dedicated service to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all the residents of Los Angeles County.

What's This Beautiful Commendation?