As a small child, Yolana Murrell first begged for a guitar (“too big”) and a trumpet (“not enough air”). “I begged for a violin and they let me.” Starting at age five, she set high goals. “The piece I wanted to play was Beethoven’s violin concerto. It took 12 years to get there.” Yolana learned via the Suzuki method which emphasizes music as a native tongue.
Temporarily setting aside music in college, Yolana majored in history. Because her violin technique was in place before she quit, “my muscle memory was all there when I picked it back up.” Still, returning to her prior level took years of practice. She now teaches, helping her students listen and learn by ear. ”You want a gorgeous tone.” She does not count how many students she has. “This way it feels like everything is under control.”
Yolana and her husband have two sons. She spends her spare time gardening, reading, working out, and playing chamber music, “my favorite thing.” She enjoys the schools, the concerts, and the parks and recreation opportunities in Orange County.
