About
Eliana Estrada is a Los Angeles-born violinist whose musical journey began at the age of four, studying fiddle music. She holds degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory (BM) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM). While at Oberlin, she discovered her passion for baroque violin and historical performance, serving as concertmaster of the baroque ensemble. At SFCM, she was a winner of the 2023 and 2024 Baroque Concerto Competitions and served as the teaching assistant for the Pre-College Baroque Ensemble.
Her primary teachers have included Marilyn McDonald, Joseph Maile, Cordula Merks, and Vijay Gupta. She is currently pursuing baroque violin studies at the Juilliard School under the guidance of Cynthia Roberts and Elizabeth Blumenstock. At Juilliard, she has collaborated with leading figures in early music, including Rachel Podger, William Christie, Masaki Suzuki, Lionel Meunier, and Jakob Lehmann.
Eliana has appeared in performances at the Boston Early Music Festival, Musica Antiqua Bruges, and Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, and has performed with renowned ensembles such as Twelfth Night, Apollo’s Fire, and the Handel and Haydn Society. She is one of two musicians selected in the 2025–2027 Handel and Haydn Stone Fellowship.
Her festival appearances include the Carmel Bach Festival Baroque and Classical Academy, Oregon Bach Festival’s Berwick Academy, Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, Madeline Island Chamber Music, and the NSO Summer Music Institute. She has also performed in some of the nation’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, Severance Hall, and Symphony Hall.
In addition to performing, Eliana is a dedicated and passionate teacher. She has taught private students of all ages and served as a chamber music coach at the Oberlin Community Music School. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes developing strong, tension-free technique while encouraging each student’s individuality and curiosity. She strives to create a supportive and joyful learning environment where every student feels valued.
Eliana is also a founding member of Quartet Novalis, a period-instrument ensemble formed in 2024 at the Carmel Bach Festival. The quartet explores classical and romantic string quartet repertoire on gut strings, bringing a fresh perspective through rhetorical awareness and historically informed interpretation. The group recently competed in the International Van Wassenaer Competition in Utrecht.
Her musical interests include 17th-century German repertoire, imaginative recital programming, and introducing new audiences to the joys of historical performance. Outside of music, Eliana enjoys befriending stray cats, watching horror films, and hunting for treasures for her online vintage clothing shop.