Anastasiia Tonina was born into music.  It was music that brought two people together, who made the birth of this young lady possible.  Her father is a musical director and conductor of the Metelitsa State Russian Folk Orchestra, and her mother is a professional violinist and active member of numerous rock, bard and classical music ensembles in St. Petersburg.  From a young age, Anastasiia was surrounded by prolific musicians, actors, and artists whose influence reflects strongly in her life.  She received her first easel at the age of six when her parents noticed her talent as a painter, and four years later, she held her first exhibition in St. Petersburg. 

Anastasiia was also involved in music from an early age, and soon won achievements in local and international competitions.  At the age of ten, she gained her first job in the Youth Theater on Fontanka River as an actor-musician.  Two years later, she debuted as a soloist with the student orchestra at the St. Petersburg Philharmonia Hall.  Her serious commitment to music came at the age of fifteen when she was accepted to the Rimsky-Korsakov State Music College.  Under the guidance of flutist Michael Kraiz, Anastasiia won several international music competitions, including those in Narva, Estonia (2013) and Stockholm, Sweden (2013).  In college, she performed as a soloist with the Youth Symphony of St. Petersburg in the best halls of the city, including the Mariinsky Theatre and the Academic Glinka Capella.   Upon graduating, Anastasiia received a special award for her contribution to the musical life of the College and the city. 

In 2013, Anastasiia to the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the studio of Alexandra Vavilina-Mravinskaya (her last year teacher was Maria Fedotova).  One year later, she received a full-scholarship for a master’s degree at Florida’s Lynn Conservatory with Jeffrey Khaner, and began concurrent musical studies at both institutions.  During her first year in the United States, she won the Concerto Competition at Lynn Conservatory, and second prize in the International Gershwin Competition in New York.  By 2018, Anastasiia had graduated from both programs, and soon thereafter pursued additional studies at the Music and Arts Private University of Vienna in the studio of Andrea Wild.  Other notable musical endeavors include regular solo performances with the Metelitsa State Russian Folk Orchestra since 2012, and substituting in the Mariinsky Theater for one season.  She has performed in master-classes for world-renowned artists including James Galway, Vincent Lucas, Andras Adorjan, Egor Egorkin, Nadine Asin and Nicola Mazzanti. 

Anastasiia’s latest artistic venture combines her two passions in a series of unique recital-art exhibitions; through her paintings, she shares with audiences the stories which come alive in her head while she performs.   Successful recital-exhibitions have been held in both Russia and the United States.

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…and she continues on her journey as the FLUTIST & the ARTIST!