Today we’d like to introduce you to Pasha Tseitlin.
Hi Pasha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The story of the California Institute of Music is deeply tied to my family’s lifelong passion for music education. The school was originally founded in the early 1990s by my parents, Michael and Irina Tseitlin. My father set out to create a sanctuary for world-class violin pedagogy, and over the decades, our studio has produced some of the finest violinists in the world—including figures like David Chan, concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist Francesca Dego, alongside many other international competition winners and concert soloists. It has always been a true family business, grounded in a shared commitment to artistic excellence.
Growing up in San Diego as their son, music was a standard language at home. I began performing early and pursued my career as a concert violinist, earning degrees from USC and the Colburn Conservatory. During those years, I had the privilege of achieving milestones I had dreamed of as a kid: winning the Grand Prize at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, co-founding the Calidore String Quartet, and performing as soloist and orchestral violinist with incredible ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Diego Symphony.
Yet, despite performing on incredible stages, I found myself continually drawn back to teaching. The high-pressure environment of a professional concert career can sometimes distance an artist from the original spark that made them fall in love with music. Returning to the studio to teach alongside my parents completely re-energized me. Watching a young student’s eyes light up when a complex phrase finally clicks, or seeing their genuine delight in producing a beautiful tone, reminded me why I picked up the instrument in the first place. Their joy brought back my own.
Today, representing the California Institute of Music here in the Carmel Valley and Rancho Santa Fe community is immensely rewarding. We are proud to work with some of the most talented young violinists and prodigies in the country, while also fostering a lifelong love of music in students of all levels. Our mission hasn’t changed since my father started the school decades ago: we are here to nurture the next generation of world-class artists.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It certainly hasn’t been a linear or easy road, but every challenge along the way shaped the teacher and musician I am today.
The story really starts with my parents, Michael and Irina Tseitlin. They left Russia seeking political asylum, arriving in the United States with essentially nothing despite their world-class training from the Moscow Conservatory. Through incredible grit, my mother secured a position with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and won top prizes at major international competitions like the Queen Elisabeth, while my father joined the San Diego Symphony and quickly established himself as a renowned master teacher. Growing up, learning from two icons of that caliber was a privilege, but it also came with immense pressure. Following in the footsteps of two world-class masters—and navigating the unique, often funny dynamics of having your parents as your primary teachers—set a very high bar early on.
Later, while studying at USC under Alice Schoenfeld, my career was moving fast. I was winning competitions, serving as concertmaster, and preparing to head to Juilliard when I suddenly hit a major wall: I developed major physical issues in my hands. It was a terrifying moment for a young violinist. I decided to take a gap year to re-evaluate everything, which led me to the Colburn School to study with Robert Lipsett. Mr. Lipsett completely retooled my physical setup and technique.
That setback turned out to be the ultimate blessing. While at Colburn, I realized my deep passion for teaching. Mr. Lipsett allowed me to shadow him with conservatory-level students, warning me candidly that being a great violinist doesn’t automatically make you a great teacher—and that finding your unique voice in pedagogy takes years of trial, error, and growth. At the same time, I was running a private studio in LA and commuting to San Diego on weekends to shadow my father and teach a full slate of students there. Learning from both master pedagogues simultaneously accelerated my understanding of the craft, showing me how to translate complex technical mechanics into genuine artistic inspiration.
I eventually made the decision to step away from my LA studio to commit full-time to the California Institute of Music in San Diego alongside my parents. Not long after, the pandemic hit, presenting a whole new set of obstacles. We worked tirelessly to adapt our studio so we could safely offer a creative, stable anchor for our students when they needed engagement and connection the most.
Whatever heights I reached in my own performance career, my ultimate goal now is to give our students the tools, foundation, and artistic freedom to soar even further than I did. Seeing them succeed beyond my own benchmarks is the greatest reward I could ask for.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I am a violinist, stage performer, pedagogue, and contemporary repertoire specialist. My performance career has taken me across a vast range of musical settings—from iconic venues like Walt Disney Concert Hall and major halls across the U.S., to soloing with symphonies in Europe and recording film and television soundtracks in Los Angeles. Whether touring extensively across the country as a solo artist and with a premier string quartet, or performing in intimate chamber settings, I’ve always thrived on the stage.
An unexpected dimension of my background includes years of deep jazz study, which led to incredible experiences like playing a jazz set with a well-known Tokyo band in a packed town square in Portugal before thousands of people. Later, touring Japan as both a classical and jazz artist and playing to sold-out venues across the country was a defining experience. That jazz foundation completely transformed how I view music. Classical training often conditions players to meticulously dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t,’ but my time in jazz taught me how to break out of the box. Today, I use that perspective to help classical students go beyond the page, trust their instincts, and play with true artistic freedom.
Beyond the stage, I am also a sound engineer, audio producer, and videographer. I’ve also expanded our studio’s pedagogical reach through The Incredible Adventures of Little Slonik—a book and animated series designed to make foundational violin technique engaging, accessible, and fun for young children by blending creative storytelling with world-class fundamentals. The books are originally composed and written by my father, Michael Tseitlin.
What I am most proud of—and what truly sets my work apart—is the rare balance between top-tier performance and deeply patient, long-term mentorship. People often tell me I have remarkable patience in the studio. While it isn’t always my natural state in everyday life, understanding its value with my students has transformed my teaching. It allows me to look past the early, slow-building years and clearly envision a child’s ultimate trajectory—holding that vision for them long before they can see it themselves.
Teaching a student from as young as five years old and guiding them all the way through conservatory auditions builds a profound, lifelong bond with both the student and their family. Following in the footsteps of mentors like my father and Robert Lipsett—allows me to mentor not just from the real-time experience of performing at the highest level, but with the patience and vision required to help students reach heights they never thought possible.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
For prospective families and students interested in serious, high-level violin instruction, studio evaluations, or masterclasses, the best way to connect with us is directly through our website at californiainstituteofmusic.com.
We also warmly welcome support from local classical music patrons who share a passion for championing the next generation of talent. Beyond following our journey or inquiring about attending our upcoming student recitals, there are wonderful opportunities to make a direct impact on our young musicians. We frequently work with dedicated prodigies who need assistance with studio tuition, access to fine instruments, or funding for major international competitions as they step toward professional careers. If you are interested in supporting or sponsoring a young artist on their journey, you can easily reach out to us with a message through our site.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.californiainstituteofmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaliforniainstituteofmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@californiainstituteofmusic
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleSlonik
