Fresh from statewide performances with the internationally acclaimed Violins of Hope SC, Cully Salehi is honored to join the 21st Annual Varna International Music Academy. A versatile performer, she came from a background in classical music performance, and has branched out to record studio projects and perform live with artists from various genres, including indie rock, Americana, and folk. She earned her degree in Viola Performance from the high school program at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and performed with two university orchestra programs and in percussion and jazz ensembles at Guilford College, where she minored in music. She has studied under Ulrich Eichenauer and Joanna Binford. Past performance venues include The Newberry Opera House, The Abbeville Opera House, the Columbia Museum of Art, and Richland County Public Library. Cully currently teaches in a private studio setting, and serves as violist for Palmetto Chamber Orchestra and Zena Strings.