Karolina Protsenko 

I don't know who the little girl is on the right but she asked to play a specific song with Karolina. This was the first time, but she shows up to play "My Heart Will Go On" with Karolina and her mother Ella on another day. I'm try to find a link to the video. 

Karolina Protsenko was featured in a Dreamworks TV video for the animated movie "Abomination" with three other violinists - Xola Owens, Jaimie Yoon, and Daniel Apolon. They performed an excellent cover of "What a Beautiful Life" by Bebe Rexha from the movie. The highlight for me starts around the 2:06 mark where you really see Karolina's energy and talent on display. I think she was maybe 10 or 11 at the time.

Karolina and her father Nikolay performing "Shallow" ...

Karolina plays Symphony while Angelica Hale sings.

Karolina plays Historia De Un Amor in Barcelona

Karolina plays Footloose with a young theater group in California. 

Karolina challenges the infamous violinst Ray Chen to perform blind and he counters by challenging her to play while using a hula hoop. They are playing the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean.  Ray also had a master class to help Karolina with a Mendelssohn piece she would be playing with an orchestra. 

Karolina performs a classical piece of Mendelssohn with the Orchestra Nova LA. It's an intense 30 minute segment.

I'm not sure how I stumbled across this amazing young artist but I am sure glad I did. Karolina Protsenko has a huge following on YouTube and has been performing since she was 6. Now 15, this young lady continues to impress with her musical abilities. Her primary focus has been on the violin (which she plays without sheet music) but she has began playing guitar and piano. She seems to pick things up very quickly. 

Karolina can often be found playing pop music on her violin by shops near the Santa Monica Pier in California. She doesn't just stand in one place. Instead she puts her music in motion with some dance moves she may have learned in ballet or other dance classes. Or maybe she moves as the music inspires her. She performs covers of well known pop and rock music but also wows with her ability to perform some difficult classical pieces (at recitals, not on the pier). She said in an interview she likes the music she performs on the pier because it gives her the freedom to move around.

  • She earned a Golden Play Button from YouTube for her street performances in 2019 when she was 10 years old
  • She has more than 7.5 million followers all over the world 

Her performances have attracted international attention, too. An Italian saxophone player Daniele Vitale performed some remote collaborations with her then he made a point of coming to the United States. The duo performed together while he was here and even recorded an album together. She recently returned from a trip to Europe where she performed with him on the streets of Italy. I believe she may have performed in Germany and France as well during her family's trip. Oscar Stembridge from Sweden came to California and sang with her while she played violin. Oh I forgot. She sings, too. 

Karolina and a friend from Ukraine known as Barvina performed together. Sometimes they both sang, sometimes Barvina sang while Karolina played violin. They have several cover videos. The pair even did some dramatic videos. They haven't performed together recently so I wonder if Barvina and her family moved. 

Karolina made guest appearances and performed on The Ellen Show and the Kelly Clarkson Show. On one of these shows she was surprised by the opportunity to meet and play with one of her favorite role models, Lindsey Stirling. I believe she may have auditioned for America's Got Talent. 

Karolina isn't the only musically gifted member of her family. Her father sings and plays guitar, her mother sings and plays keyboard and her younger brother, Leo, 5, is learning drums and has been seen in her videos with a small violin or at a keyboard. All of her family members have made appearances with her. One of her cousins is featured playing saxophone. 

Karolina is so full of energy it's no wonder she has gotten so much attention. Violin music may not be your thing but listen or watch how she gives a unique twist to some of the popular songs of today and yesterday (Beatles, Journey and so many more). 

Karolina has several albums available from when she was very young up to her most recent one with Daniele Vitale last year. You can find her mostly on YouTube but she does post videos on Facebook and Instagram, usually teasing full length videos on one of her YouTube channels. There's one for her violin playing, her singing and a family vlog. 

YouTube links

Other Social Media Links

These are, to the best of my knowledge, her official social media links. Unfortunately there are some "fans" who like to pretend they are Karolina and have even asked for money so sometimes it's hard to discern what is official and who is a pretender. She does, however, have an option to subscribe to her page on Facebook which is $4.99 a month. If you click on subscribe she has a video where she explains how the money made from these subscriptions goes towards her music and dance lessons. Other artists use Patreon and other crowd funding so it's not uncommon.

Here are links to some of my favorite performances by Karolina ...

A few with Daniele Vitale

A couple with renowned violinist Ray Chen

With Oscar Stembridge

Some other vocal performances...

A couple of dramas/music videos

Interviews/TV performances

Piano

 

There were so many videos it was hard to choose only a few. She is also on iTunes, Spotify and other music streaming sites

Photos from Karolina's YouTube channel

An interview on Access Hollywood with AGT's Howie Mandel, Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union giving her advice when Karolina was 10.

In this video you see Karolina practicing, getting ready to appear on the Kelly Clarkson show and she has no idea Lindsey Stirling will be there. This edited version (from Karolina's YouTube channel) shows them playing together, too.

Karolina's reaction to learning she is in the studio on The Kelly Clarkson Show with her inspiration Lindsey Stirling.

Karolina meets Lindsey Stirling and receives a gift of Lindsey's own signature violin on this Kelly Clarkson segment.

Here is link to a video of Karolina playing piano after one month of lessons. She learns fast! She also talks about the difference in playing violin and piano. 

Karolina also has been learning piano. She learns quickly as is demonstrated in her recital and other videos. Here she is playing "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies." 

Karolina also plays guitar, though she has performed on the violin longer than any other instruments. Here she is performing with her mother Ella Protsenko.

Karolina performing "Feelings" on guitar.

Karolina performing a classical music piece at a violin recital when she was 14.

Karolina and her mother Ella performing Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You " ...

Karolina has five albums available through her website.

Be sure to visit YouTube for more videos of Karolina Protsenko.

David C. Lannan is a former photojournalist and publication designer. His experience in writing includes feature and news stories, editing and proofreading. His graphic design includes logos, postcards, CD covers, flyers and newsletters. Find samples of his work at his online portfolio, LFE.design.

 

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