About
Los Angeles-born violinist Eliana Estrada began her musical studies at four-years-old, studying fiddle music. During her youth, she attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, served as a mentor in Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, and was principal second violin of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra.
Eliana holds degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory (BM) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM). At Oberlin, she began to explore her interests in baroque violin and historical performance, and she hasn’t looked back! At both Oberlin and SFCM, she served as concertmaster of the baroque ensemble. Also at SFCM, she was a winner of the 2023 and 2024 baroque concerto competitions and was the teaching assistant to the Pre-College Baroque Ensemble. Throughout her studies, her primary instructors have included Marilyn McDonald, Joseph Maile, Cordula Merks, and Vijay Gupta. She is currently studying baroque violin at The Juilliard School with Elizabeth Blumenstock and Cynthia Roberts.
In past summers, Eliana has participated in numerous music festivals including the Carmel Bach Festival Baroque and Classical Academy, Berwick Academy, Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, Madeline Island, and the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. She has performed with notable early music groups including Apollo’s Fire, California Bach Society, and Juilliard415. She has also had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed figures in early music, such as Rachel Podger, William Christie, Laurence Cummings, Masaki Suzuki, and Jakob Lehmann.
In addition to her performing endeavors, Eliana also loves teaching. She has worked as a private teacher to students of all ages and playing levels. She has also served as a chamber music coach and camp counselor at the Oberlin Community Music School. Her goal in teaching is to guide her students towards developing strong technical proficiency that sets them up to avoid tension and injury as well as encourage them to follow their individual interests and curiosity. She hopes to cultivate a studio environment that makes all students feel welcome, supported, and heard.
Additionally, Eliana is a founding member of her period instrument ensemble, Quartet Novalis. Formed in the summer of 2024 at the Carmel Bach Festival, Quartet Novalis seeks to bring a fresh perspective to the classical and romantic string quartet repertoire through exploring the sound of gut strings, understanding rhetorical ideas, and reshaping audience expectations. They are currently based in New York City.
Some of her specific musical passions include studying 17th-century German works, curating fun and unique recital programs, and introducing the delights of historical performance to people who are new to it! In her free time, Eliana enjoys befriending stray cats, watching horror movies, and scouring thrift stores for new gems to include in her online vintage clothing store.