Born in Chernovtsy, Ukraine,[1] Tenenbaum studied music at the Kyiv Conservatory and obtained a master's degree.

[9] She recorded a viola recital, again with Kapp, of transcriptions and original pieces, Chausson's Pièce pour alto et piano, Op.

I knew that Mrs. Tenenbaum was concertmaster of the Philharmonia Virtuosi, but there is no lessening of her wonderful violin skills when she switches to the viola.

[10] Tenenbaum is known for also playing salon repertory, such as works for violin and piano recorded as Songs Without Words with pianist Kapp, by composers such as Fritz Kreisler and Henryk Wieniawski.

A reviewer compared her to Jascha Heifetz and noted: While Mela Tenenbaum has a bright, steely tone, and an incisive rhythmic sense, there's nothing mechanical or motoristic about these readings.

Her tone is under control, and her left hand is alert to possibilities of expressive fingerings and the subtle portamenti that are so vital in this repertoire.