Violist Ekaterina Dobrotvorskaia was born in the historic Russian town of Vladimir to a family of musicians. She started playing violin at age five, and at age ten was accepted to the Central Music School for musically gifted children at the Moscow State Conservatory. Ms. Dobrotvorskaia graduated from the Central Music School in viola performance in 1993. She received a MM in music performance from the Moscow Conservatory in 1998, with certificates in solo, chamber, and orchestral performance. Her education also includes special training in music pedagody. She studied viola with Galina Vakhromeeva-Odinetz, one of the leading viola professors in Moscow. Additionally, Ms. Dobrotvorskaia pursued chamber music studies with Alexander Korchagin of the Shostakovich String Quartet. She has received numerous scholarships and awards and was selected by the Moscow State Conservatory to attend master classes in Russia and Europe. Ms. Dobrotvorskaia's active performing career has included extensive tours of Australia, Israel, Cyprus, Switzerland, France and Germany. She has performed as a member of the Tempera String Quartet. This quartet was selected from an international pool of applicants to represent Russia for a competition in Melbourne, Australia. Ms. Dobrotvorskaia served as Principal Violist of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra in Moscow. Other performing credits include the Moscovia Chamber Orchestra and the Russian Philharmonia Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Dobrotvorskaia joined the Veronika String Quartet in November of 2000. She was Principal Violist of the Pueblo Symphony for 10 years, and an Artist-in-Residence at Colorado State University-Pueblo for 11 years. She frequently makes solo appearances and collaborates with local musicians in chamber music performances. She has been a member of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic since 2008. She coaches the Colorado SpringsYouth Symphony Chamber Program and Sectionals.