Cellist Erin Ellis leads a versatile career as a performer and teacher. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States as well as in Canada, Chile, Italy, and Holland.  Her CD recording of J. Dall’Abaco’s 11 Capricci for solo cello was recently released on Albany Records.  Formerly based in Atlanta, Georgia, she served as Assistant Principal Cello of the Atlanta Opera, Principal Cellist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (GA), and continues to perform with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC).  Recent concert seasons have included recital tours with the Meliora Duo (with pianist Kevin Chance), performances with the WVU Chamber Players, and appearances at home and abroad with the Lyon Piano Trio.  She has also performed with artists like Yo Yo Ma, Stevie Wonder, and Josh Groban.  Erin is an accomplished baroque cellist as well and has performed with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Indy Baroque Orchestra, and with members of Chatham Baroque.  She can be heard on recordings with the New Trinity Baroque Orchestra and as a featured soloist on Evening Hymn with the Georgia State Chorus. 

 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 an active string chamber music program.  Her chamber music students have received recognition at the MTNA Chamber Music Competitions and have been Teaching Fellows at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp.  Recently, the Montani Quartet was awarded first prize for Collaborative Faculty Student Mentored Research at WVU.  Her students have been accepted to prestigious organizations such as Green Mountain Chamber 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.  Several of her students have received scholarships for Suzuki Cello Teacher Training and are influential teachers in the region and abroad.  

 Erin has conducted masterclasses and workshops at nationally-recognized institutions like Vanderbilt University, The Ohio State University, and Pennsylvania State University.  She has presented at the College Music Society’s National Conference, the WVMEA Conference, PMEA/NAfME Eastern Division Conference, and is a regular presenter at the American String Teacher's Association National Conference.  She spends her summers in Leicester, VT, performing and coaching chamber music at Point CounterPoint Chamber Music Camp.  Erin is committed to building community and igniting self-discovery through the cello and has developed programs like WVU’s annual Cello Day workshop and the Don’t Fret online fundamentals series.

 Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Erin 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.  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 completed Suzuki teacher training with Tanya Carey and Andrea Yun.  She studied the cello with Richard Aaron, David Ying, Alison Wells, Phoebe Carrai, and Martha Gerschefski.

Bio and CV available upon request