Two years ago, the mysterious universe brought me and Yelena together after my good friend living in Yelena’s hometown of Los Angeles overheard her mention that she was moving to Paris. Somehow, she (and the universe) knew that we should meet. Soon after she settled into her new home, we planned a date at the famous left bank haunt Café de Flore, and have been sharing Parisian adventures ever since. Yelena even joined us in the Italian Riveria last summer. This beautiful and soulful woman, a trained violinist who has performed with some of the world’s greatest artists including Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Adele, and U2 (just to name a few) is now living her dream life in Paris. As any foreigner who has moved to the City of Light knows well, it’s far from easy, but she is determined! Yelena is creating her own melodic path and sharing her passion for Paris and the gift of music through violin lessons and classical music experiences. I am grateful to join her on this journey.

Throughout my life, I’ve had deep connections with certain things. At the age of 5, I knew I wanted to be a violinist and it became a lifelong adventure in the world of music. Music took me all over the world, I traveled extensively with concerts. I got to perform on the world’s biggest stages including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Disney Hall.

I visited Paris first time at the age of 14, I was there with concerts. When I stood under the sparkling Eiffel Tour I knew that this city is special and I felt that magic connection. So indeed years after I came back to Paris and was drawn to it so much that I started coming here more and more often. Each time I arrived here I felt in my element. I loved taking my time and getting intimately acquainted with the city. I learned the language, the culture, its people. And the more I learned the more I fell in love with it.

I loved sharing Paris with friends and all of them would tell me that they never experienced it this way, that seeing Paris through my eyes was so much more personal and special. So some of those friends convinced me to create a website dedicated to Paris one pleasant afternoon while sipping hot chocolate at a beautiful Parisian hotel. They literally made me buy the domain parisinstyle.com. I had no idea back then what I was going to do with it.

But being a disciplined musician I got back to Los Angeles, where I lived at the time and I started creating the website. It was all about Paris and sharing through it my love for this city. And two years after I felt that life was too short not to pursue our dreams, so I decided to move to Paris and make it my home. Everything magically worked out and I arrived in Paris with 2 suitcases and my violin. A new adventure had begun. It wasn’t always easy to start all over from zero in a foreign city, but I knew why I was doing it and it was so worth it! Each time when I look at the shining Eiffel Tower in my window or when I stroll down the historical streets I feel like I’m living a dream. I am so grateful to have found this place that fulfills me in so many ways and that I’m fortunate to call home.

This year I transformed Paris In Style towards music and the power it has because after all, it is through the eyes of a musician that Paris becomes magical for me.