Biography
Yelena Wells holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano Performance and a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. Yelena teaches applied and class piano at Calvin University. Previously, she has served on the faculty at Grand Rapids Community College and Hope College teaching a range of college music classes including applied and class piano, music history, and music appreciation.
Yelena is a distinguished recipient of multiple awards, including the League for Innovation John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award, the Grand Rapids Community College Excellence in Education Faculty Award, and the Teacher of the Year from the Piano Teacher’s Forum of Grand Rapids. Her recent accolades include the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Music Teachers Association and a nomination for the MTNA Vice President of Membership officer position.
In addition to her academic and musical pursuits, Yelena is passionate about digital marketing. She serves as the Digital Marketing Strategist at Elite One Media, providing a wide range of internet marketing services such as web design, social media marketing, and SEO. Her marketing strategies help businesses and music professionals remain competitive, credible, and connected in the digital landscape.
Yelena is an active member of the Michigan Music Teachers Association and the Grand Rapids Piano Teachers' Forum, where she serves as the Marketing & Technology Chair. She frequently adjudicates Michigan's state and local piano competitions and speaks on music marketing topics at local, state, and national conferences. Her philanthropic efforts include leading fundraising initiatives for local non-profits such as Community of Hearts, Kids Food Basket, Samuel Omogo Foundation, Henna Crowns of Courage, Ama International, among others.
