TAMARA CHERNYAK was born in Leningrad and began taking violin lessons at the age of five. She graduated with honors from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in 1970; in 1972 she became a member of the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra.

In November 1974, Ms. Chernyak emigrated to the U.S. and spent the following summer performing at festivals in Sarasota, Florida, and Tanglewood. The following September she was appointed associate concertmaster of the Kansas City Philharmonic.

She joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1976, and has appeared several times as soloist with the Orchestra, including performances of Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 under Zubin Mehta and concertos by Vivaldi conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini and (most recently) by Christopher Hogwood.

Ms. Chernyak has served on the faculty of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute. She is actively involved in chamber music performances as founder of the Daria String Quartet, which has appeared under Philharmonic auspices as well as in concert throughout Southern California, and as a member of the Philharmonic New Music Group and the Philharmonic Chamber Music Society.