Elliot Anderson began playing the cello at age 8 through a public school music program in Pittsburgh, PA. He was immediately drawn to the “big one” of the violin family instruments. After hearing Anne Martindale Williams, Principal Cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony, little Elliot was hooked and knew what he was aiming for.

Elliot’s early teachers included Anne Martindale Williams and Michael Lipman of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts in 2001, and performed with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. In the fall of 2002, Elliot attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and studied orchestral playing under renowned violinist and conductor Sidney Harth, and participated in a masterclass with Mstislav Rostropovich. He left Duquesne University in 2003 to pursue other artistic interests, and moved to Tucson, AZ in 2005 to study with Nancy Green at the University of Arizona. While in Tucson, he spent the summer having lessons with master cellist Dr. Gordon Epperson.

He has also attended the National Youth Orchestra Festival, traveled to Soesterberg, Netherlands, for an International Festival, performed for Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”, and played as part of an opening musical act for “Earth, Wind, and Fire”.

As a section cellist, Elliot has played with the PMEA All-State Orchestra, Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, Washington Symphony Orchestra, and Durham Medical Orchestra. He also greatly enjoys solo playing and chamber music which showcase the powerful expressive capacity of the cello.

Elliot currently lives in Hillsborough, NC, where he loves and cares for his orchid collection, garden, and family of cats.