A Bright Young Star Takes the Stage: Cellist Sterling Elliott with Pacific Symphony

If you’ve been following the classical music world, you’ve likely heard the buzz about Sterling Elliott, the stunningly talented young cellist taking stages by storm. Only in his early 20s, he has already achieved what most musicians only dream of—solo performances with top orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and Cleveland Orchestra.

And now, Orange County audiences get to experience the Sterling Elliott phenomenon firsthand when he joins Pacific Symphony as cello soloist for Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major on March 14-16. We’re thrilled to have this rising star grace our stage under the baton of dynamic guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto.

But who is Sterling Elliott, you may ask? Well, let me paint you a picture of this charming young virtuoso.

Elliott was basically born into the cello, beginning lessons at the ripe old age of three with Suzuki teacher Susan Hines. The youngest of three musically-inclined siblings, he initially wanted to play violin like his brother and sister. Thank goodness he chose the bigger string instrument instead—it’s hard to imagine that rich, soulful cello sound coming from those little hands on a violin!

From that early age, Sterling was hooked on making music his life’s pursuit. At seven, he won his first major competition, setting off a dizzying trajectory filled with top prizes and debuts at major venues like Carnegie Hall. He’s collected an enviable array of accolades, including a massive $50,000 prize from the 2019 Sphinx Competition and being one of the youngest musicians ever to work as a sub for the New York Philharmonic.

But despite the incredibly impressive resume, Elliott seems to be a humble, down-to-earth guy who still finds joy in the simple things. The Washington Post has described his playing as “joyous,” and you can certainly sense that love for music radiating from the stage during his performances.

When he’s not dazzling audiences worldwide, Sterling pursues his studies at Juilliard with renowned cello professors Joel Krosnick and Clara Kim. He’s also actively involved with organizations like the Sphinx Organization which are dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.

So get ready, Orange County. This young string wizard is about to weave his spell over Pacific Symphony audiences with what is sure to be a breathtaking interpretation of Haydn’s iconic Cello Concerto. Sterling Elliott’s star has been rapidly rising—and if his trajectory is any indication, he’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

The March 14-16 concerts conducted by Prieto also feature Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari and Mahler’s Fifth Symphony for a nicely balanced program of 21st century, Classical, and late Romantic works. You won’t want to miss this chance to see Sterling Elliott in action before he’s so in-demand that scoring tickets becomes impossible! Read more here.

Hear Sterling Elliott’s poetic performance of Rachmaninoff’s poignantly lyrical Vocalise.