Rachell Ellen Wong

Violinist Rachell Ellen Wong made history in 2020 when she was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, becoming the only baroque artist in the program's history to receive the honor. A star on both the modern and historical performance violin stages, she is also the Grand Prize winner of the inaugural Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition. With performances across five continents, Rachell 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 led by lutenist Thomas Dunford, Bach Collegium Japan, Ruckus Early Music, and Les Arts Florissants, 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 Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Panamá, Orquesta Sinfónica de Costa Rica, and the Seattle Symphony.  In 2020, Rachell made her conducting debut with the Seattle Symphony, leading a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons from the violin. Currently, she serves as concertmaster of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra.

Notable concerto performances from Rachell's 2023-2024 season include appearances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Reno Chamber Orchestra, and the Northwest Sinfonietta. Highlights from last season included performances of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the Auburn Symphony (WA), Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Richmond Symphony (IN), Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy with the American Classical Orchestra (NYC), as well as debuts for UC Berkeley's Cal Performances, the Edinburgh Music Festival, the Washington Bach Consort in DC, and a recital for the Starling-DeLay Symposium at The Juilliard School. Additionally, Rachell is a faculty member at the Valley of the Moon Music Institute in Sonoma, CA, guest artist at Ilumina Festival, and an American Fellow of The English Concert.

Alongside acclaimed keyboardist David Belkovski, Rachell is co-founder of Twelfth Night. Founded in 2021, Twelfth Night’s notable engagements include Music Before 1800, Reno’s Apex Concert Series, Arizona Early Music, and Chatham Baroque. The ensemble is set to make its Carnegie Hall debut during the 2023-2024 season.

Rachell holds a Masters in Music in Historical Performance from The Juilliard School, where she was a Kovner Fellowship recipient. She also holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she divides her time between New York City and Seattle. Rachell performs on a baroque violin from the school of Joachim Tielke circa 1700, as well as a violin made by Carlo de March in 1953. Her exceptional blend of technical virtuosity, expressive musicianship, and deep understanding of period performance practices has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated following.