India Burke grew up with a rich musical heritage.

From her mother who was born and raised in Georgia, she learned the joyous music of the South — blue grass, Baptist choral singing and traditional American folk song. From her father, who came from Romania with parents from the Ukraine, she grew up with the unique gypsy music , the folk songs and dances of Eastern Europe, as well as the brilliant classical traditions. From both parents who loved to dance to the music of their era WWII came Broadway, Sentimental love songs, cabaret and Jazz. These beautiful traditions have filled the household throughout the years

India Burke began musical studies with Professor Vladimir Ullstein in San Fran cisco, CA at the age of 4 on piano and at the age 7 on violin. Out of the more than 16 years that Ullstein was in the Burke family home teaching, 12 of those years formed up the foundation of India Burke’s interpretive understanding and technical skill. Professor Ullstein had a profound influence on India’s life. He was a graduate of the famous St. Peters burg Conservatory in Russia before the Russian Revolution, a student of Ana Esipova and Lechetitsky and also a gradu ate from the Stern Conservatory of Music in Violin. In San Francisco, Ullstein was the conductor for the Russian Opera Company, and a composer as well.

After his passing, India continued piano with Adolf Baller of Stanford and Mortimer Markoff of Palo Alto. In Violin, India continued as a student of David Schneider (pictured at right), Principal Violinist with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and well known author of” The San Francisco Symphony, Music, Maestros, and Musicians” and she remained close to throughout the years until his passing in 2005. India studied abroad with the Pianist Aline Van Barentzen considered one of the great Masters of the Conservatoire National de Paris also with Francesco Zaza at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Swit zerland. India has attended important Master Classes abroad some of which include, the famous Institute des Hautes Etudes Musicales, Sion, Switzerland with Tibor Varga and distinguished invited violinists, also the well known school of Nadia Boulanger outside of Paris, France at the American Conservatory at Fontainbleu.