Rosemary Elliott

Rosemary Elliott, Associate Professor of Cello at the Eastman School of Music, has an active performing schedule as both orchestral and chamber musician. As principal cellist of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, she has also served for many years on the music advisory board. Elliott is a core member of the orchestra's chamber music ensemble and has twice performed as soloist with the orchestra. From 2005-2023 she was artistic director of 'Morning Chamber Music' at the Eastman School. The series is dedicated to introducing new audiences to chamber music through varied programming at a popular Saturday morning time.

​Prior to her appointment at Eastman, Elliott was a member of the cello staff at the Royal College of Music, in London, (1994-1998) and performed regularly with some of most notable chamber orchestras, including the London Mozart Players, the City of London Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of St. John's Smith Square. She has also been a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and toured with the Halle Orchestra of Manchester, England.

​For almost 20 years, Elliott has been a member of the performing and teaching staff at the Heifetz Institute. She has also taught for close to twenty years at the Bowdoin International Music Festival and participated in the Skaneateles, Icicle Creek Chamber Music festivals, the International Musician's Seminar in Cornwall, England, and the Kerry Chamber Music Festival in Ireland. Most recently, Elliott was an instructor at the 'Vivace' online cello festival and the 'Ascent' cello program in Cincinatti. She currently teaches students at every level of playing, both at the Eastman Community Music School and the Eastman School of Music. Elliott is committed to fostering a love of music and developing each student's expressive and communicative abilities regardless of age or stage.

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INSIGHTS

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What made you take up your instrument as a child?

Jacqueline du Pré.

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Why do you continue to perform?

To be directly involved in recreating some of the greatest music ever written.

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What inspires you to make music?

The feeling of connection with an audience.

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What makes playing in an orchestra so special?

The sound all around you and the sense of community

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What is special about the CCO, to you?

The excitement that the group generates in performance and the amazing performers all around me!​

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Describe a favorite moment or memory with the CCO.

The 203-24 Season performance of Shostakovich Cello Concerto with guy Johnston as soloist (and our new Music Director, Guillaume Pirard, then as candidate, conducting!!) Guy went from being our student at Eastman to a professor at Eastman and it was so wonderful to be on stage with him.

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Is there something you would like CCO audience members to know about you that isn't in your bio?

My family is "cello mad!" Myself, husband Steven Doane, and son Benjamin are all cellists and we’ve all performed as soloists with CCO.

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