Vapour Quartet, a dynamic string ensemble based in Los Angeles, combines the timeless elegance of classical music with a refreshing touch of modern pop flair.
Eleanor Dunbar, violin
Boryana Popova, violin
Emily Williams, viola
Trevor Jarvis, cello
About Us
Eleanor Dunbar, violin
Violinist Eleanor Dunbar is a dynamic and versatile artist with a vast range of experience under her belt. A graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance under Emanuel Borok, former concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony and Boston Pops. During her time at SMU, Eleanor was awarded the prestigious Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award and was a founding member of the Cézanne Quartet, who were named the inaugural Peak Fellowship Quartet-in-Residence.
With a love for classical music at her core, Eleanor is dedicated to always expanding her musical boundaries with a passionate belief planted in versatility. In 2022, delving deeper into the world of improvisation and composing, she wrote and recorded on an album by guitarist Anthony Plant, which sparked a newfound passion for the craft. She continues to expand her recording work and most recently can be heard in the soundtrack to Apple TV’s Palm Royale.
Eleanor has been privileged to work closely with jazz pianist and composer David Benoit, which led to the incredible honor of premiering his violin concerto Remembrance. Additionally, she has been lucky to share the stage with incredible artists such as Andrés Diaz, Roberto Diaz, the Escher Quartet, Chee-Yun Kim, Alessio Bax, Lucille Chung, Lea Salonga, Vanessa Williams, and more.
Now based in California, Eleanor continues to cultivate an exciting and diverse artistic landscape, furthering her ambitions in the musical scenes of both California and Texas.
Boryana Popova, violin
Dr. Boryana Popova is a professional violinist based in Los Angeles. Born in Varna, Bulgaria, she started playing the violin at age 6. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Bulgarian National Music Academy in Sofia. After coming to the United States, she received master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from University of California, Los Angeles where she studied with Prof. Movses Pogossian and Prof. Guillaume Sutre from 2007 to 2012. While at UCLA, she was awarded with the Mimi Feldman Scholarship, Evelyn and Mo Ostin Scholarship, and the Gluck Foundation Fellowship.
Boryana currently works as a freelance musician in Los Angeles, where she has performed with several orchestras, such as Riverside Philharmonic, Long Beach Opera, Long Beach Camerata, LA Jewish Symphony, Opera San Luis Obispo, Opera Ritrovata, Musical Theatre West, American Contemporary Ballet, and Helix Collective. Boryana is also a regular member and concertmaster of Pacific Opera Project. As a session musician, she has recorded on numerous scores for film and television, pop albums, and commercials. Boryana is a violin teacher at the French Conservatory of Music in Beverly Hills and has her own private studio, as well.
Emily Williams, viola
Violist Emily Williams is a passionate performing artist who has found her artistic home in the vibrant city of Los Angeles. Originally from Boston, Emily has carved a diverse career, making her mark on stages across North America, South America, and Europe.
Emily performs as a substitute violist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and spent two seasons as a fellowship violist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, her passion for new music has led her to collaborate with contemporary composers, performing with groups like Wild Up, Jacaranda Music, Delirium Musicum, and the Hear Now Festival. Emily has shared stages with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder, Billie Eilish, Steve Lacy, and Charlie Puth at iconic venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Orpheum Theater, and the Greek Theatre. She has also appeared with Dierks Bentley at the Country Music Awards and has been invited to perform at various renowned music festivals, including the Breckenridge Music Festival, Music in the Mountains, Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Music Program, Heifetz International Music Institute, and Music Academy of the West. Beyond her live performances, Emily’s captivating sound can be heard in studio recordings for film and TV, with recent recording credits including the TV series Presumed Innocent, Fargo, Umbrella Academy, and Survivor, where she was featured as a soloist. Film credits include The Old Man & the Gun, The Shot, Moving On, The Perfect Find, and Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles with Billie Eilish and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Emily has also contributed to the music of artists including Imagine Dragons, Meghan Trainor, CeeLo Green, Charlie Puth, and The Rare Occasions.
Emily's musical journey began at the New England Conservatory and Phillips Academy Andover. She earned degrees with honors from Indiana University, University of North Texas, and Southern Methodist University, all while actively performing with chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, New World Symphony, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her career, Emily’s dedication and artistry have garnered numerous awards, including the IU Music Faculty Award and T. Taylor Trust Scholarship, which allowed her to acquire her cherished 1935 Mario Antonio Frosali viola.
Trevor Jarvis, cello
An accomplished, classically trained cellist with expertise in songwriting and production, Trevor Jarvis is a musician based in Los Angeles. With extensive experience in both classical and pop/rock settings, he brings passion, creativity, and versatility to his musical endeavors. As a cellist, Trevor has played with such prominent artists as Andrea Bocelli, Wyclef Jean, Imogen Heap, and Madison Beer, and his songwriting efforts can be heard on country superstar Little Big Town’s album Nightfall, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country chart and was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Country Album.
Trevor attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music, studying privately with GRAMMY award-winning cellist Eugene Friesen and graduating summa cum laude in three years with a bachelor’s degree in performance. During his time at Berklee, he collaborated on a number of high-profile projects, writing the string arrangement and recording cello for a song produced by John Mayer, and performing with international artists such as Rosa Passos, Oscar Castro-Neves, and Leo Blanco.
Since relocating to Los Angeles, Trevor has brought his cello to world-renowned venues like the Dolby Theatre, Disney Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl, and recorded for film and TV at the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage, Fox’s Newman Scoring Stage, and the Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage at Sony Pictures Studios. Recent recording credits include major hit films like Avatar: The Way of Water, Jordan Peele’s NOPE, and Netflix’s Family Switch, as well as the TV series The Orville, The Umbrella Academy, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Stargirl. He has also appeared in high-profile live settings including performances on NBC’s The Voice and Disney’s Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl.
Trevor maintains an active schedule as a cellist for film, TV, concerts, pop records, and more, as well as collaborating regularly in writing sessions with prominent Los Angeles songwriters. He is also a founding member of the folk/pop band Peridot, for which he has co-written many songs and produced numerous commercial recordings.
