Dr. Julia Salerno has served as Senior Lecturer of Violin and Viola at Eastern Washington University since 2010, and began her private studio in 2000. Her students have been finalists and prizewinners of regional and national competitions, soloists with orchestra, and scholarship recipients at summer programs and prestigious graduate programs.  Julia began Suzuki violin lessons at age two and her passion for the instrument never let up. During her teenage years, Julia went on to be a competition winner, orchestral soloist and scholarship recipient for several prestigious summer festivals. Julia graduated with a DMA in Violin Performance from the University of Southern California. She was also awarded major scholarships for music study at the University of Michigan and University of Southern California, where she received her B.M. and M.M., respectively, in violin performance.

Julia has enjoyed many other diverse musical experiences, including a small appearance in the 2009 movie The Soloist, the 2009 Academy Awards Governors Ball Orchestra, a PBS Documentary honoring Ella Fitzgerald, and performances with musicians like Stevie Wonder and Natalie Cole. She also performs frequently as a live soloist in productions with Coriolis Dance in Seattle.

As a chamber musician, Julia enjoys frequent collaborations with artists all over the US and continued opportunities to solo with orchestras around the region. She especially loves performing with her father, cellist Benjamin Gish and also with her longtime friend Sarah Whitney in the Seeing Double Duo.

In addition to the musical part of her life, Julia has a passion for real estate and loves helping people fulfill their home buying and selling needs throughout the Spokane region. Feel free to contact her with any questions about that as well!

Julia and her husband Tres have three young children, an energetic pup and an elderly cat. They are learning the art of Suzuki parenting while helping the kids with violin, cello, classical guitar and piano studies! They love outdoor adventures, concerts of many genres, time with family and friends, and all things vegan cuisine.