Part-Time Assistant Professor of Music and Artist in Residence Hai Zheng Olefsky has returned from a successful tour in Asia. In October 2025, she was invited to lead a cello master class for students at the China Conservatory in Beijing, sharing her expertise with some of the country’s most promising young musicians. She has also been teaching and mentoring the exceptional young cellists in the greater Austin area. Her students achieved remarkable accomplishments in statewide and regional music competitions. Two of her top cello students earned placements in the All-State Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, including the prestigious first chair of the All-State Symphony Orchestra. In addition, six of her students won auditions in the 2025–2026 Texas All-Region Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, securing both the first and second cello chairs of the All-Region Symphony Orchestra. These All-State and All-Region auditions are sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), a leading organization promoting music education across Texas.

This summer, Part-Time Assistant Professor of Music and Artist in Residence Hai Zheng Olefsky was invited to serve as a guest judge for the 2025 Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship Competition, presented by Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW). MBAW, a nonprofit dedicated to multicultural arts and social impact, works to celebrate shared humanity by making global arts accessible to all. The Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship provides college tuition assistance to outstanding young string players who aspire to professional careers in classical music.

Part-Time Assistant Professor of Music and concert cellist Hai Zheng Olefsky has been teaching and coaching top young talents in the greater Austin area. Three of her students won cello auditions in the 2024–2025 Texas All-State Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, including the first cello chair of the Philharmonic Orchestra, sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). Two of her cello students from St. Stephen’s School won cello auditions for the Texas Private School Music Educator Association (TPSMEA) 2024–2025 All-State Orchestra.

Part-Time Assistant Professor of Music and Artist in Residence Hai Zheng Olefsky is excited to share this season’s release of the Amazon documentary “The Story of Art in America,” where she is featured in season 3, episode 2. This episode highlights Georgetown artists, including painter and art instructor Carol Light, textile artist Gary Anderson, muralist and portrait artist Devon Clarkson, and concert cellist Hai Zheng Olefsky. “The Story of Art in America,” an award-winning docuseries created by acclaimed film director Christelle Bois and produced by executive producer Pierre Gervois, explores the art scenes in various American cities and towns. The series features in-depth interviews with artists and art historians, highlighting the role of the arts in American society and its historical significance. The documentary is now available on Amazon Prime, offering a glimpse into Georgetown’s vibrant arts scene. Georgetown Arts and Culture Program Manager Amanda Still remarked, “It’s been an unforgettable experience to participate in this project… We are so proud of the members of our arts and culture community for the eloquent way they have demonstrated the impact of arts, culture, and history in Georgetown.” The episode can be viewed here.

In July, Part-Time Assistant Professor of Music and Artist in Residence Hai Zheng Olefsky was invited to serve as a guest judge for the 2024 Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship Competition by Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW), a nonprofit organization dedicated to multicultural arts and social impact. MBAW’s mission is to celebrate our shared humanity by making global arts accessible to everyone. The Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship offers college tuition assistance to young string players aspiring to careers in classical music.