Manuela teaches violin and viola.
Manuela Topalbegovic, native of Rousse, Bulgaria, began her violin studies at the age of five. She emigrated to the States in 1995 with her family. Manuela holds a Bachelor of Music from Webster University, where she received the Buder scholarship for gifted students and studied with Yuly Iliashov. She holds a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Missouri- Kansas City, where she was awarded the graduate string quartet assistantship for three years. Her teachers there include Benny Kim and Gregory Sandomirsky. Manuela is an active chamber music and orchestral performer in the Saint Louis area. She performs regularly with Union Avenue Opera, Bach Society of St. Louis, Winter Opera, Kingsbury Ensemble, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, Webster University Orchestra, Paducah Symphony, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Rosewood Ensemble, Salem Chamber Orchestra, and many others. Manuela is the second violinist of the Perseid String quartet. She has also given numerous solo recitals with her good friend and pianist Diana Umali.
In addition to performing Manuela is also an active and experienced pedagogue. She holds teaching positions at the Community Music School of Webster University, Webster Groves Elementary Schools Strings Program and maintains a private studio at home. In her free time Manuela enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with friends, family, and her black lab Sasha.