About Elissa Volling
Elissa Volling is a Denver-based violist, violinist, and educator with over 10 years of orchestral and professional experience. She has studied with Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Marsha Holmes, and Patricia McCarty. In 2024, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance, with Distinction in Research and Creative Work, from The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.
In 2019 and 2020, she was selected as one of sixteen violists for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). With NYO-USA, she played at Carnegie Hall and toured across Europe, performing at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Royal Albert Hall in London for the BBC Proms. She also served as principal violist of the Denver Young Artist’s Orchestra for four of her seven years as member, and served as principal violist of the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra in 2024.
Elissa made her debut as a soloist in 2017, performing the Stamitz viola concerto with orchestra after winning the Colorado Young Sinfonia concerto competition. In 2018, she won the Denver Young Artists Orchestra concerto competition, and performed the Bowen viola concerto with orchestra. Her performance of the Bowen led to her being featured on Colorado Public Radio Classical.
In 2023 and 2024, Elissa won substitute positions with the Houston Symphony Orchestra as well as the Houston Grand Opera and Ballet, and advanced to the final round of auditions the Royal Scottish National Symphony Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Outside of performing, Elissa trained as an apprentice luthier from 2021 until 2023, repairing fine string instruments for Denver-based Luther Strings.
As an educator, Elissa has taught orchestra and string quartet at the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp and has led sectionals for the Denver Young Artist’s Orchestra and Littleton High School. She takes a comprehensive approach to teaching classical strings: prioritizing a foundation of excellent technique and emphasizing ear training as much as the written page.
As a Colorado native, Elissa loves to immerse herself in nature by biking, hiking, and skiing. At home, she loves to cook and cuddle with her cat, Frosty.
