Elizabeth Pitcairn,  violinist

Since her notable debut with the New York String Orchestra at Lincoln Center, violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn has earned a celebrated reputation as one of America’s most beloved rising soloists.

The signature artist performs in partnership with one of the world’s most legendary instruments, the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720, said to have inspired the Academy award-winning film The Red Violin.  She gave the Southern California premiere of The Red Violin Chaconne in 2000.  Recently Pitcairn collaborated with Lionsgate Films for the 10th anniversary re-release of The Red Violin DVD – Meridian Collection in special feature documentary interviews by Pitcairn and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano. She is featured performing on the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius and discussing the inspiring history of the mysterious instrument.

Born into a musical family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Pitcairn began studying the violin at age three and performed her first concerto with orchestra at 14.  Under the direction of Maestro Luis Biava, Pitcairn performed with Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Youth Orchestra in San Juan and Ponce. Her path then brought her to Los Angeles to study with preeminent violin professor Robert Lipsett at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.  After winning a major competition, she appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Academy of Music.

Upcoming concerts will feature a debut with the Puerto Rico Symphony and a return engagement at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center.  Other highlights of the 2008-2009 season include an East Coast recital tour with pianist John Novacek and a series of educational concerts for the Naples Philharmonic (FL).  Pitcairn will perform the Mozart Concerto in D Major to open the inaugural season of the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra (NY) and perform the Paganini Concerto in a rarely-heard 1921 arrangement by Wiljelmj with eminent conductors Anshel Brusilow and Patrick Flynn. She will collaborate with illustrious composer/conductor David Newman in a performance of The Red Violin Chaconne at Royce Hall in Los Angeles.

One of Sweden’s foremost composers, Tommie Haglund, dedicated to her his violin concerto entitled Hymns to the Night.  The world premiere given by Pitcairn and the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra of Sweden was broadcast nationally on Swedish Radio to tremendous ovations and critical acclaim.

Her discography includes recordings of Tchaikovsky and Mozart Concerti with the Slovenia Radio Television Orchestra, as well as the Bruch Scottish Fantasy and the Bizet/Sarasate Carmen Fantasy with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra of Bulgaria.