Work with Choirs

She began her training and work as a choral conductor with the Music College Choir and the Kazan Conservatory Choir in Russia. This experience prepared her to take on the challenge of conducting the youth choirs of the School of Music in her hometown of Dimitrovgrad, Russia.

Under her guidance, training, and direction these choirs earned both local and international recognition to include First Places in the Children’s Regional Choral Competitions (1999, 2002), Four Certificates of Appreciation for excellence in teaching, creative initiative, and aesthetic education in the preparation of students for participation in contests for Gifted Young Children (2003, 2004), and culminating in International Recognition with a Certificate for Best Performance in Classical Music (2004).

The work with the choirs continued in the United States. In 2004, Zhanna began working with local choirs and musicians at the secondary level assisting them in their preparation for competing in the Illinois State Music contests, with many of them achieving the highest honors. She became the choir director for the Varsity choir of Countryside School in Champaign, Illinois and began her work with the choir of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Urbana, Illinois. While working with these choirs, Zhanna completed her studies and work towards a doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Choral Conducting and Piano Pedagogy. Zhanna expanded her experience by being a conductor for The Oratorio Society, Choragos, and the University of Illinois Singers of the University of Illinois. Additionally, she was appointed as assistant conductor for the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana (BACH), Champaign, Illinois.