Qianru Elaine He, Violin

Musician

Based in New York City, Chinese violinist Qianru Elaine He began her violin studies at the age of 5 under the influence of her mother’s passion to classical music. She has participated at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, DeLay-Starling Violin Symposium, Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop, PMP Suncoast, IMS Prussia Cove in England, Tanglewood Music Festival, and Morningside Music Bridge. She has served concertmaster at MSM Orchestra and Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, as well as other leadership positions in orchestras under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons and Daniele Gatti. Her recent honors include 1st Prize at the 2023 Naftzger Prize Audition, and 2nd Prize at the 2023 Hellam Young Artists Competition where she also received the Stephen and Linda Paganini-Brite Award. She was also prize winners at the Ann & Charles Eisemann International Competition, Pearl & Julius Young Artists Competition, and the Doublestop Foundation Instrument Loan Competition. Recently, she performed with Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, and toured with Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. She also performed with the New York Philharmonic as a substitute violinist. She also performed with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra as a guest Principal 2nd violin. Elaine holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School, mentored by Catherine Cho and Lewis Kaplan; and is currently pursuing her DMA at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Todd Phillips and Sheryl Staples. She currently performs on a Miralles Violin through generous loan by the Maestro Foundation.