Born in Volgograd, Russia, Galina André graduated from music school as a young child and subsequently received her diploma from the music college of Volgograd and her masters's degree in viola from the Rachmaninoff Conservatory. For the following eight years she performed with the Volgograd Chamber orchestra, principal, the Volgograd Opera Theatre, co-principal, and the State Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Volgograd. In 1997 she married American conductor David André and moved to the United States, where she performed as a violist with the symphonies of Monterey, Fresno, and Tulare County. She has maintained a studio of violin and viola for the past fifteen years, and her students have received national and state awards, performing in state and national honor ensembles. Having created and developed a vibrant string program for St. Paul's School, she recently began developing a similar program at St Frances Cabrini School. In addition, she teaches privately in the André music studios in Cupertino and San Jose.