Haiming Wu, Soprano

Haiming Wu is a soprano from Wuhan, China. Wu is currently studying at the USC Thornton School of Music, earning her Master of Music degree in Vocal Arts and Opera. Wu will simultaneously make her American and role debut as Younger Alyce in Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo in USC Opera’s Spring 2023 production.

During her undergrad in Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Wu performed several leading roles of Rong in the world premiere of the contemporary opera The Voice of May with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Newspaper Boy in the Chinese original Opera He Lvting in Shangyin Opera House.

Wu also performed in the opera scenes programs at SHCM, performing the roles of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Adina in L’elisir d’Amore, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Pamina and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Norina in Don Pasquale, Musetta in La Bohème, Gilda in Rigoletto, and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor. She also has sung and had masterclasses with Hartmut Höll, Sherrill Milnes, and Maria Zouves. Wu was a former member of Shangyin Opera House’s Young Artist’s program “Ying Cai Zhu Fei.

Aaron Oltman, viola

Aaron Oltman has performed with many of the orchestras in the Southern California area, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Pasadena Symphony, and New West Symphony. He has appeared in chamber music concerts for the Camerata Pacifica, Sundays Live at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the South Bay Chamber Music Society, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella series, and is active in the Recording Industry.

Tina Soule, cello

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, cellist Tina Soule studied piano and cello at Peabody Prep and began her professional career at age 16 with the Bach Society of Baltimore.

After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and a Master of Musical Arts degree from Yale, she moved to Los Angeles where she has since enjoyed an active life as a studio recording musician and as a free-lance orchestral and chamber music player. 

She has worked on hundreds of film scores with composers such as John Williams, Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer, and has played on the Grammy’s, the Oscars and the Tonight Show.

 For 30 years, Ms. Soule served as principal cello with the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival (later called Mozaic), where she performed as soloist under conductor Christopher Hogwood and collaborated with some of the world’s most esteemed chamber musicians.

She has also performed with the Santa Fe Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and as principal cello with the Boston Ballet, the Orange County Chamber Orchestra and the Santa Monica Symphony.

She currently resides in Altadena, where she enjoys playing local concerts with her beloved colleagues of Melodia Mariposa.

Philip Vaiman, violin 

The professional career of violinist Philip Vaiman has taken him to concert halls around the globe and premier recording studios. In his performances he demonstrates his great desire for expressive and imaginative music-making. Vaiman’s profound musicality and unlimited technical possibilities have captured audiences in Europe, America, and Asia.

Philip Vaiman has been the recipient of many awards such as: “The Award of the Leni Fe Bland Foundation,” “The Sophia Guzik Foundation Award,” “The Julia F. Lotze Prize for String Players,” “The Winner of the Atwater Kent Concerto Competition,” “The Leroy Collins Memorial Scholarship,” and “Member of the Pi Kappa Lambda the National Music Honor Society.”

Philip started playing violin at the age of four. At the age of five, he was admitted to the Gnesin Academy of Music, and had his first public appearance at the age of seven. By the time he graduated from the renowned academy, he had performed as a soloist and chamber musician in England, Israel, Russia, and Cyprus. Philip continued his education at the Maymonedes Academy, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), and USC (University of Southern California), graduating Cum Laude with a Master’s Degree in Music.

Philip has performed in major halls across the world and at international festivals including The Huddersfield International Music Festival in England, The Spoleto Music Festival in Italy, The Music Festival of Pitea in Sweden, The Hvar International Summer Festival in Croatia, The Soesterberg International Music Festival in the Netherlands, and the Bruman Chamber Music Festival in California.

Philip Vaiman’s recordings are featured on the soundtracks of award-winning motion pictures, documentaries, and commercials. He has also appeared on screen in such blockbusters as “The Wedding Planner”, “Amy’s O’s”, and “Spider-Man 3.” Philip has recorded and performed with a diverse roster of artists including Aretha Franklin, Sting, Taylor Swift, Tony Bennet, Pharrell Williams, Shakira, Michael Jackson, Dido, Andrea Bocelli, Adam Lambert, Robin Thicke, Sebastian Yatra, Juan Gabriel, Googoosh, Josh Groban, Amanda McBroom, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Matthew, Brad Mehidau, Nina Whitaker, Sheryl Crow, Lenka, Tori Amos, Nerina Pallot, Marty Friedman, and Alan Parson, as well as such bands as Pearl Jam, Goo Goo Dolls, Crash Kings, Buffy Clyro, Low Stars, Brocken Bells, Pentatonix, KISS and Guns N’ Roses.

Since 2018, Philip has been a Grammy Voting Member at the Recording Academy.

Philip Vaiman stays active as a soloist, chamber music performer, and recording artist. READ MORE HERE.

William “BJ” Johnson, Bass

William “BJ” Johnson is an accomplished musician in the Greater Los Angeles region. He attended Oberlin College and U.S.C. Thornton School of Music. His musical adventures incorporate all avenues of music, from film and television recordings to orchestral and operatic performances. Mr. Johnson has worked on over 100 film/television scores, and performed live internationally on The Grammy Awards Show, Jimmy Kimmel Show, and many other television shows. He has performed with many orchestras in the Southern California area, including Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Long Beach Symphony, San Bernardino Orchestra, Riverside Philharmonic Symphony, and serves as principal bass of the St. Matthew

Irina Voloshina, violin

Irina Voloshina is the Founder and Music Director for Melodia Mariposa, a 501(c)(3) non-profit music organization. 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 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. 

In 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.