Manuela Topalbegovic was born in Rousse, Bulgaria, and began her violin studies at the age of 5. Manuela holds a Bachelor of Music from Webster University, where she received the Buder Scholarship for gifted students and studied with Yuly Iliashov.  Further studies led to a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where she was awarded a graduate string quartet assistantship for three years. Her teachers there included Benny Kim and Gregory Sandomirsky. Presently Manuela teaches at the Community Music School of Webster University and maintains a private studio.  Manuela is an active chamber music and orchestral performer in the St Louis area. She is a founding member of the Perseid string quartet. In her free time Manuela enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family and her black lab Sasha.