About - Duo Pleiades

About Us

Duo Pleiades is a professional violin and guitar ensemble based in Ottawa, Canada that plays music in a multitude of styles: Classical, Jazz, Popular, Celtic, Tango, Choro, Traditional and others. Established in 2011, Duo Pleiades has been performing in a variety of settings including weddings, retirement communities, chamber music concert series, and private home concerts.

Since 2011 Duo Pleiades has played over 500 concerts at retirement residences, churches, chamber music series, galleries, private homes, parties and special venues. The different personalities and skill sets of the performers serve the duet well: Anna plays violin and manages the duo; Andrew plays guitar, sings, finds and creates great music arrangements. Duo Pleiades also has a team of associate musicians who can be available upon request. Other instrumental ensembles can be customized and include voice, piano, percussion, cello, and accordion.

The Violin and Guitar

Anna Baksheeva

Anna Baksheeva is a Russian-Canadian violinist and violin teacher based in Ottawa, Canada. Anna studied violin in Russia since the age of 5, attended special music schools in Vladivostok, has an associate degree from St.Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov music college, holds a Bachelor Degree in violin performance from the University of GA (USA) and Masters Degree from the University of Ottawa (Canada). Anna is a passionate musician who enjoys the full spectrum of her work as a violin teacher and as a freelance violinist, collaborating with many fine musicians in the national capital region.

Anna teaches violin at her home studio and works as a violin instructor at the Ottawa OMS Montessori School. Anna enjoys regular performances at various chamber music series around Ottawa and Gatineau with her Duo Pleiades as well as collaborates with pianists Frederick Lacroix, Katherine Addlemann, Daniel Furtado, Wayne Irschick and singer Sophie Bertrand. Mrs. Baksheeva is also part of a trio with Katherine Addlemann and Sophie Bertrand specializing in music of female composers. Lois Siegel Productions.inc is working with Anna since 2012 in performing music for retirement communities and private functions.

Anna lives in Ottawa and together with her musical husband they raise two musical children. They like to play together at home and at recitals.

Andrew Mah

Canadian guitarist Andrew Mah is a unique and exciting musician, widely regarded for his virtuosity, versatility, and heartfelt musicality. Born in Ottawa into a family of guitarists, he has performed professionally on classical guitar for more than 20 years, carving out a uniquely eclectic international career as a solo concert artist, chamber musician, teacher, arranger, producer, and adjudicator. Having concertized throughout Canada, the US, and Europe, he was the first North American ever to tour in the Republic of Cape Verde. Adjunct to his performing career, he is active in a presenting capacity as President of the Ottawa Guitar Society and is often sought out for his expertise in the arrangement and notation of music from other cultures and styles into readable scores for classical musicians.

Testimonials

Associate Musicians

Duo Pleiades has a team of associate professional musicians who are available to sub and collaborate if needed. They are on call and ready to come and perform for a wedding or event so you can be certain that our live music will be on your special day!