Alena Michal

Alena has been a member of the Parma Symphony Orchestra on and off since 2016. Her love of classical music stems from her parents, longtime professional cellists. Her father, also a composer and conductor, led a small youth orchestra in Southeast Ohio, where Alena got her start playing the violin. Through high school she was lucky enough to be able to play at weddings and parties in a string quartet with her family. She also played several times with various honor groups at Ohio University and with the Southern Ohio Light Opera. She also joined her older brother and picked up the French Horn so that she could participate in Highschool Band and other opportunities.

Alena attended Miami University of Ohio and graduated in 2012 with a BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures along with a minor in French Horn Performance. She has spent the subsequent years in a variety of jobs and locations, most prominently 3 years teaching English as a second language in Japan, as well as the last 5 years working at the College of Wooster Libraries supervising students. She has sought out opportunities to play music all the while, and is incredibly grateful for the chance to play such wonderful music with the Parma Symphony!