About Rachell Ellen Wong, guest director

Violinist Rachell Ellen Wong is a unique and vibrant performer who is equally at home in both Baroque and standard violin repertoire.  In 2020, she made history when she was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, becoming the only baroque artist to receive the honor. Her exceptional blend of technical virtuosity on gut strings, expressive musicianship, and understanding of period performance practices has garnered international critical acclaim and a dedicated following. Named “most approachable virtuoso” by the New York Classical Review,

Rachell has appeared as a soloist across six continents and has established herself as one of the leading historical performers of her generation, collaborating with esteemed ensembles such as the Academy of Ancient Music, Jupiter Ensemble, Bach Collegium Japan, The English Concert, and Ruckus, among others. Equally accomplished on the modern violin, Rachell made her first public appearance with Philharmonia Northwest at age 11 and has since performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Symphony, among many others. Rachell also teaches for the Valley of the Moon Music Festival in Sonoma, CA. 

Rachell’s recent appearances include performances with the New World Symphony, Camerata Pacifica, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Ilumina Festival in Sao Paulo, Reno Chamber Orchestra, The Northwest Sinfonietta, and The Rome Chamber Music Festival. Alongside the exceptional conductor and keyboardist David Belkovski, Rachell is co-founder of Twelfth Night, a dazzling early music ensemble. Founded in 2021, Twelfth Night’s recent engagements include Carnegie Hall, Cal Performance, Caramoor, Chatham Baroque, Arizona Early Music, San Diego Early Music, Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City, and Early Music Seattle where the ensemble has a regular presence. 

Among her many awards, Rachell was the Grand Prize winner of the inaugural Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Rachell attended The University of Texas at Austin, Indiana University, and The Juilliard School, where she was a Kovner Fellow recipient. Rachell performs on a baroque violin from the school of Joachim Tielke ca. 1700, and a violin made

in 1953 by Carlo de March. She currently resides in New York City with her two bunnies. For more information about Rachell, please visit her website at www.rachellwong.com.