HOME | PROGRAMS - Performing Artists | Sphinx Soloist Program | Sterling Elliott
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Sterling Elliott
2019 Robert Frederick Smith Prize Winner
Sterling Elliott has received raved reviews for his solo performances. Adam Parker of the Charleston Post and Courrier wrote: “Sterling Elliott’s professional career is already is underway, and his concerto provided a perfect vehicle for him to demonstrate his impeccable technique and musicality.” Peter Ingle of the Charleston Today.net wrote: “Sterling Elliott is a name you may hear in the future, but don’t necessarily count on seeing this young cellist in Charleston very often, because we may soon be too small for him. Sterling’s mastery, musicality, and personal charm were all evident Saturday night where he performed Victor Herbert’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in E minor.” Victor Carr Jr. of Classics Today.com wrote: “Elliot’s impeccable musicianship, as well as his discernible love for the music won over the audience, which responded with sustained standing applause.” Zachary Lewis, of The Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote: “Cellist Sterling Elliott, held a full Severance Hall in his grasp with a strikingly mature account of David Popper’s “Hungarian Rhapsody,” a feisty virtuoso showpiece on the Cleveland Orchestra’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert.”
Sterling’s recent accomplishments include being awarded 1st prize in the Senior Division of the 2019 22nd Annual Sphinx Competition on February 3, 2019. He was the youngest Finalist in the prestigious competition and will receive $50,000 – plus a number of important performance opportunities. Sterling also won the audience choice award which comes with an additional $5000. Days before the Sphinx Competition, Sterling performed several concerts in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum which included a performance on the CNBC Television Network. Sterling is also one of the youngest musicians to work as sub for the New York Philharmonic. In October of 2018 Sterling had his solo debut at Carnegie Hall where Frank Daykin of New York Concert Review wrote: “The very fine young cellist Sterling Elliott played two movements from Cassadó’s Suite for Solo Cello with perfect intonation, style, and total involvement.”
In spite of such accolades, Sterling has enjoyed a simple, and humble musical journey. He began his cello studies at the age of three under the direction of Suzuki Cello teacher Susan Hines. Sterling, the youngest of 3 siblings, did not originally want to play the cello; he wanted to play the violin like his older brother and sister. After a bit of encouragement, he made The Elliott Family String Quartet perfect by learning to play the cello.
Sterling made his solo debut at the age of 7 when he became the first place Junior Division winner of the PYO Concerto Competition, which was the beginning of many other notable accomplishments such as; Grand Prize for the First Presbyterian Young Artist Competition, 1st Place in the York River Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2nd place winner in the 2013 National Sphinx Competition, 1st Place winner in the 2014 National Sphinx Competition, 1st Place winner in the 2014 Richmond Symphony Concerto Competition, and 1st Place in the Bay Youth Orchestra Concerto competition, and 2nd Place in the 2015 Richmond Symphony Concerto Competition. Sterling has enjoyed the honor of performing for French and American cellist Yo Yo Ma and also performing alongside recording artist Jennifer Hudson. Sterling is proud to have been awarded the 2016 Isaac Stern Award by the Sphinx Organization as well being featured in a 3-page interview in the October 2015 “Strings” Magazine. Sterling is also a two-time alum of NPR’s From the Top, a nationally syndicated radio broadcast featuring America’s most talented young musicians, where he was announced as a recipient of a $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Award.
For summer study, Sterling has attended The Taos School of Music, Kneisel Hall, Perlman Music Program, Aspen Music Festival, and others. Upcoming summer plans include performances at Music@Menlo, Chamberfest Cleveland, and Perlman Music Program.
Professionally, cellist Sterling Elliott has soloed with the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and many more as well as a performance at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. These concerto performances have taken place in venues across the United States, most recently including Carnegie Hall in New York and Symphony Hall in Boston.
Sterling currently studies with Joel Krosnick at the Juilliard School working towards an undergraduate degree in Cello Performance where he is a proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship.