Elias Goldstein

Praised by the Chicago Tribune for his ” incredible performance” and the Seattle Times as” ravishing” violist Elias Goldstein has distinguished himself as one of the great instrumentalists of his generation. Second prize winner of the 2011 world renowned International Primrose Competition, Second Prize Winner of the Bashmet International Competition,  Prizewinner in the Tertis International Competition,  he has achieved recognition and critical acclaim not only as a champion of his instrument but as a musical ambassador as well.  In 2016 he made his debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall where he was the first violist invited to perform all 24 Caprices by Paganini, a program that later toured the United States and Europe.

As a recitalist he has performed in many of the greatest halls of the world including Carnegie, Alice Tully, David Geffen, Seattle Symphony’s Benaroya Hall, the Kennedy Center, Salle Cortot, George Enescu Philharmonic, Musikiitalo Helsinki. He frequently collaborates with the world’s greatest musicians including Nobuko Imai, Eli Eban, Ilya Kaler, the Pro Arte, Shanghai, Latin American, Arianna, and Cavani Quartets, to name but a few. His solo and orchestral appearances have brought collaborations with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic. Festival appearances include Valdres, Aspen Festival, Beijing International Music Festival, and Chautauqua Festival.

Dedicated to the music of our time, he has worked with composers Jennifer Higdon, Paul Chihara, William Bolcom.  In 2019 he gave the world premiere of Grammy Award Wining composer Jennifer Higdon’s Viola Songs and in 2018 was personally invited by William Bolcom to perform for the composer’s 80th anniversary concert at Merkin Hall in New York. 2020-2021 highlights include a world tour for his upcoming CD release Melanconico with Centaur Records, featuring works by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and the world premiere recording of George Enescu’s third violin sonata in a minor, all special arrangements made by the artist.

He is currently on faculty at University of Delaware and serves on the Executive board of the American Viola Society. He performs on a beautiful and rare Saint Cecille Vuillaume made in 1850.