Erin Ellis

Cellist Erin Ellis leads a versatile career as a performer and teacher. She has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator across the United States as well as in Colombia, Germany, Canada, Chile, Italy, and Holland.  Her CD recording of J. Dall’Abaco’s 11 Capricci for solo cello, released on Albany Records, garnered positive reviews noting “flawless” technique and “a fresh approach.”  Additional discography releases include featured soloist with the Georgia State Choirs. Dr. Ellis performs regularly as part of the Meliora Duo with pianist Dr. Kevin Chance. She is also an accomplished baroque cellist and performs as a soloist and chamber musician with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.

As a scholar, Dr. Ellis is a regular presenter at professional conferences at home and abroad, at State, Regional, National, and International venues. She has conducted masterclasses and lectured at universities of regional and national recognition. She is currently serving as the Chair of the National Conference Committee for American String Teachers Association National Conference.  She spends her summers in Leicester, VT, performing and coaching chamber music at Point CounterPoint Chamber Music Camp. 

A dedicated music educator, she maintains an active private studio and is Associate Professor of Cello at West Virginia University, where she teaches cello, coaches WVU’s graduate string quartet (Montani Quartet), and coordinates the string chamber music program.  Her students have received recognition at the MTNA Chamber Music Competition, have been Teaching Fellows at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, and have been awarded first prize for Collaborative Faculty Student Mentored Research at WVU.  Her students have also been accepted to prestigious organizations such as Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Brevard Summer Music Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Program (as an Orchestral Fellow), Carnegie Hall’s NYO2 program, and Interlochen Academy of the Arts boarding school.  Recent graduates have received graduate assistantships and significant stipends for continued study, including a fellowship at the Kennedy Center.  Several of her students have received scholarships for Suzuki Cello Teacher Training and are influential teachers in the region and abroad.  

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Ellis began her cello studies as a Suzuki student at the age of 4. She earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and she completed Suzuki teacher training with Tanya Carey. She went on to receive the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree with a minor in Early Music from the Eastman School of Music, where she was recognized with the Graue Award for Excellence in Musicology. She studied the cello with Richard Aaron, David Ying, Alison Wells, Phoebe Carrai, and Martha Gerschefski.