Our program inspires individuals such as pianist Elena Akopova who came to the US to continue her piano studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under professor Mack McCray, and in the process reignited her passion for Assyrian history, culture, and identity.

So it is befitting that she would be performing a piece at the 9th Mesopotamian Night dedicated to the Assyrian people entitled “At the Palace of Ashurbanipal” by talented composer Ilya Demutsky.

Ms. Elena Akopova “Yacoub” is an Assyrian from Krasnodar, Russia. She won several All-Russian, regional and International piano competitions, including the 1st place at the International Piano Contest in Helsinki, Finland in 2005 while attending Krasnodar Conservatory of Music under Professor Nelly Mezhlumova. Elena’s performance conquered jury’s and audience’s hearts. She played two musical compositions: Frank’s“Prelude, Choral and Fugue” and Ravel’s Jeux d’eau (Water Games).

Today Elena is a member of MTAC (Music Teachers Association of California), a chair of the Autumn Music Festival (Palo Alto), and a faculty member of the Pacific Music Academy (San Jose). She continues her passion performing piano and teaching music in the Bay Area ‪