Student Spotlights
Brendon Elliott and The Richmond Symphony
On January 5th, Brendon Elliott won 1st place against 31 students in the Richmond Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in Richmond, Virginia. He won a cash prize and will appear as guest soloist with the Richmond Symphony on April 7, 2008. He will perform Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo Cappriciosso.
In December 2007, Brendon was selected by dvd audition as one of 3 finalist for the Symphony of the Mountains National Concerto Competition in Kingsport Tennessee. He was the youngest student to ever be selected for the final round. On January 12, 2008, Brendon performed the entire Symphonie Espagnole by E. Lalo in the competition. His 2 competitors were both 25 years old! Although he did not win in the final round, he had impressed the conductor so much that was invited to return to Tennessee as guest soloist with the orchestra for a family series concert in February 2009!
Brendon Elliott, is a 13 year old violinist who began his violin studies under his mother's instruction at the age of three. At the age of six, he was accepted to his first youth orchestra where he was the youngest member. Brendon currently is in his 3rd consecutive year as concert master of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra (PYO). Brendon made his debut as a soloist when he was 10 years old when he performed a concerto with the Hampton University Orchestra. He won his first concerto competition in 2005 with the PYO and he consequently performed as a soloist with that orchestra in 2005.
In 2006 he was a winner in the York River Symphony Orchestra's Young Artist Concerto Competition (YRSO) as well as the Peninsula Youth Orchestra Concerto competition, and as a result performed a soloist with both orchestras that year. Brendon was selected to perform for violinist Leila Josefowicz in a master class in 2006. In addition to these accomplishments, Brendon has won first place in his age category at the National Level of United States Air Force Talent Competition for three consecutive years. Brendon is the first violinist in his family's ensemble, The Elliott Family String Quartet, and has traveled extensively performing with the ensemble. Brendon now studies violin with Virginia Symphony's Concert Master, Mr. Vahn Armstrong, and he attends Gildersleeve Middle School as an 8th grader.