Korean-American violinist Elly Suh has distinguished herself internationally as a performer and winner of numerous renowned competitions. She was named the 1st prize winner of the 2016 Oleh Krysa International Violin Competition in Lviv, Ukraine and the 1st Grand Prix winner of the 2017 Concours International de Musique de l’Orchestre Philharmonique of Morocco, as well as top prize winner in the Leipzig International Bach Competition (Germany, 2018), Premio Paganini International Violin Competition (Italy, 2015), Michael Hill International Violin Competition (New Zealand, 2015), Moscow International David Oistrakh Violin Competition (Russia, 2013), and the Naumburg International Violin Competition (USA, 2012). She was also awarded Special Prizes at the 2018 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (Best Paganini Caprices and Best Encore) and 2018 Singapore International Violin Competition (Bach prize).
Praised as “a sensitive and absorbing interpreter” (Musical America), Elly has performed at the Salzburg Festival, Lincoln Center’s “Focus Festival,” and Pro Arte Musical “Young Virtuosos Series,” and has appeared on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center and NPR’s From the Top. As a founding member of the Northway Quintet, together with the ensemble she received the silver medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in Indiana, USA. Elly regularly performs with the New York Classical Players and the Grammy-nominated Metropolis Ensemble. She has also appeared as a guest artist with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) and the East Coast Contemporary Ensemble, and performed as guest concertmaster with the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra in New York City.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Elly began violin lessons at age five and entered the Juilliard Pre-College Division at the age of ten. She completed her Bachelor and Master of Music studies at The Juilliard School and Postgraduate studies at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg and Manhattan School of Music, where her teachers were Pierre Amoyal, Robert Mann, Joel Smirnoff, and Sally Thomas.