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Biography
violin + viola
Find access to downloadable press kit materials at the bottom of this page.
Described as “a consummate musician” (Naples Daily News) with “a divine sound... exquisitely sculpted” (The Prague Post), Canadian violist Sarah McElravy leads an exceptional and multifaceted career as a chamber musician, soloist, and pedagogue. Her upcoming 2024/25 season includes performances with i Virtuosi Italiani in Verona, the Graz Philharmoniker under conductor Emmanuel Tjeknavorian with Bruch’s Double Concerto for violin and viola, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra with conductor Sergey Smbatyan, and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra with a world premiere by composer Benjamin Yusupov under the baton of Julian Rachlin.
Ms. McElravy has appeared as a soloist with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Helsinki Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Russian National Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Kammerorchester des Symphonieorchesters des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, among many others. These collaborations have brought her to the forefront of international stages, performing works from the viola canon and beyond.
As a dedicated chamber musician, Ms. McElravy regularly appears at leading festivals and venues around the world. In 2024/25, she will participate in the Z+ Chamber Music Festival in Shanghai, the Groba and Westport Chamber Music Festivals, a chamber music expedition in Armenia, and a return to the Herbstgold Festival in Austria.
She frequently performs in prestigious venues such as the Vienna Musikverein, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Suntory Hall, and has participated in renowned festivals like the Prague Spring Festival, La Jolla SummerFest, Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Kronberg Academy, and the Beethoven Festival. Collaborations have included artists such as Vilde Frang, Janine Jansen, Denis Kozhukhin, Itamar Golan, Andreas Ottensamer, Mischa Maisky, Nicolas Altstaedt, and Daniel Müller-Schott.
As a founding member of the award-winning Linden String Quartet (2008–2014), she toured extensively throughout North America and held teaching residencies at Yale University and other major institutions. The quartet earned top prizes at the Fischoff, Coleman, and Borciani competitions, and a management contract with the New York Concert Artists Guild.
In 2014, Ms. McElravy founded the Chamber Music Society México, where she served as Artistic Director, bringing world-class performances and educational programs to talented young musicians in Mexico City.
Sarah McElravy plays on a 1791 Ferdinando Gagliano violin and a 1785 Lorenzo Storioni viola, generously on loan courtesy of the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung in Vienna.