Acclaimed Russian violinist, Larisa Elisha, has distinguished herself as an international soloist, chamber musician and pedagogue, having performed and taught extensively throughout Poland, Belarus, the Ukraine, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Holland, and most recently, the United States. In a recent review of Ms. Elisha’s performance of Shostakovich’s first violin concerto, The Topeka Capital-Journal wrote: “Elisha left the audience slack-jawed in awe with her tour-de-force playing of the cadenza … It was heartbreakingly poignant and profound… The ovation that followed was as long and as enthusiastic as any I can recall in White Concert Hall….” The Lawrence Journal-World wrote: “ Elisha’s playing was a dazzling display of virtuosic fingering…”
Continuing in the tradition of the legendary Russian violinist, David Oistrakh, she holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors and Master’s degree in music from the Academy of Music in Minsk, Belarus, where she was a student and assistant of Professor Olga Parchomienko. Dr. Elisha was Violin Professor at the Academy of Music in Wroclaw, Poland where she had received her Doctorate degree.
Ms. Elisha was the Concertmaster of the Witold Lutoslawski State Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Principal Violinist of the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra, as well as Director and First Violinist of the Wratislavia String Quartet in Wroclaw (Breslau), Poland. Ms. Elisha has performed recitals at the festivals of Chamber Music in Belarus, International Festival Vratislavia Cantans in Wroclaw (Poland), Contemporary Music Festival Musica Polonica Nova, Draeseke’s Festival in Germany, Gioventi Muiscale d’Italia, Wieniawski’s Festival in Poland, and Mozart’s Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her solo performances of the Shostakovich Violin concerto with the Wroclaw and Koszalin Symphony Orchestras as well as solo recitals in Krakow and at the Wieniawski Festival in Szczawno Zdroj drew critical acclaim. Ms. Elisha has also performed at the Koncertgebouw Hall in Amsterdam, Holland; Warsaw National Philharmony Hall; and Karajan Hall in Berlin, Germany, and has made numerous compact disc, TV, and radio recordings.
Currently, Dr. Elisha is Artist in Residence at Washburn University and is Concertmaster of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra. She is also Concertmaster of the Wichita Grand Opera where she performed featured solos with Placido Domingo and the late Luciano Pavarotti. She is heard regularly as a soloist and in chamber music concerts. As a master teacher, she maintains a significant violin studio and performs and teaches in various summer music festivals. In recognition for her outstanding professional achievements, Dr. Elisha has been included in the 59th edition, 2005 Marquis Who’s Who in America, the 25th Silver Anniversary Edition of Who‘s Who of American Women 2006-2007, and Marquis Who’s Who in the World 2008. Named as an honorary member to NONOSO at Washburn University, Dr. Elisha was also given an honorary lifetime membership to Sigma Alpha Iota by the SAI National Headquarters.
Dr. Elisha is co-founder of the Elaris Duo with cellist, Steven Elisha. Selected for the Kansas Arts on Tour Program roster and awarded “Musicians of the Year 2003” by the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs, the Elaris Duo received the highly coveted 2008 Kansas Governor’s Award in the category Artist. Their latest recording, DUO VIRTUOSO, released on MSR-CLASSICS label, is featured in FANFARE MAGAZINE. Ms. Elisha recently appeared as a featured soloist with the Taiwan National Arts Orchestra in famed Taiwan’s National Hall. Other recent performances have included duo recitals at the Grieg Conservatory of Music (Norway), and solo appearances with the Gulf Coast, Sunflower Festival Chamber, Lawrence Chamber and Topeka Symphony Orchestras.
“Extraordinary violinist” - Eleonore Schoenfeld
