Ukrainian-born Kseniia Polstiankina Barrad trained as a solo pianist at the highest levels before building a flourishing career collaborating with vocalists and instrumentalists on both sides of the Atlantic, working with organizations such as the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and more. She is also an experienced Russian diction coach, and has taught with the San Francisco Adler Fellows, Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and more.