Collective

She studied the art of playing the domra and ringing gusli at the Leningrad Music School named after A. К. Glazunov with teacher N.G. Beloblotskaya. The domra class was supervised by Z.I. Stavitsky and I.M. Fochenko. In 1980 she entered the State Music College named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, in the opened class of ringing gusli teacher I.I.Shurygina. In 1983 she won first place at the zonal competition in Petrozavodsk. In 1989, she became the first graduate of the full-time department of the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov class of ringing gusli, Honored Artist of the RSFSR V.N. Tikhov.

Since 1988 she has been an artist and soloist of the Andreevsky Orchestra. She plays a keyboard gusli that dates back to the early 1900s and actively participates in its maintenance and repair, which broadens the instrument's creative potential.

Pays attention to ensemble performance. She performed in the chamber ensemble «Skazka», as well as in concert duets of keyboard and plucked gusli of the Andreevsky Orchestra with People's Artist of Russia Natalia Sorokina. Also in the 1990s, she taught domra and ringing gusli classes at a music school, and a ringing gusli class at the St. Petersburg Institute of Culture.

Elena Smirnova is an exceptional musician who has developed new methods for producing sound and performing pieces. She is an expert at playing the piano and ringing gusli. These uncommon instruments have a particularly delicate and piercing sound in her hands.