Eliana Estrada

VIOLIN

Los Angeles-born violinist Eliana Estrada began her musical journey at age four. Her passion for historical performance took root at Oberlin College and Conservatory (BM), where she began studying baroque violin alongside her primary modern violin studies, later serving as concertmaster of the baroque ensemble. She continued her studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM), again leading the baroque ensemble as concertmaster and winning their 2023 and 2024 baroque concerto competitions. At SFCM, she also served as a teaching assistant for the Pre-College Baroque Ensemble.

Eliana's principal teachers have included Marilyn McDonald, Joseph Maile, Cordula Merks, and Vijay Gupta. She is currently pursuing further studies in baroque violin at The Juilliard School with Cynthia Roberts and Elizabeth Blumenstock, where she has had the privilege of working with leading figures in early music such as Rachel Podger, William Christie, Masaki Suzuki, Lionel Meunier, and Jakob Lehmann.

Her summers have been enriched by participation in numerous music festivals, including the Carmel Bach Festival Baroque and Classical Academy, Berwick Academy, Oberlin BPI, Madeline Island, and the NSO Summer Music Institute. These experiences have led to performances in prestigious venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

Eliana has also performed with world renowned early music ensembles, including Twelfth Night and Apollo’s Fire. Additionally, in the fall of 2025, she will begin a two-year fellowship with Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society, where she will perform alongside members of the orchestra and receive musical and career mentorship.

Additionally, Eliana is a founding member of her period instrument quartet, 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 and will be participating in the International Van Wassenaer competition as part of this fall’s Utrecht Early Music Festival.

Beyond performing, Eliana is a dedicated teacher, having worked privately with students of all ages and as a chamber music coach at the Oberlin Community Music School. She has also served as a teacher/mentor in the Sphinx Performance Academy at The Juilliard School during the summer of 2025. Her teaching philosophy centers on developing tension-free technique while nurturing individual curiosity and creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

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 audiences 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 shop.