ContinentalMusic.org

ELISABETH JOHNSON -violin
Received her B.A. in Musicology with an emphasis in Violin Performance from Roosevelt University, School of the Performing Arts. She studied violin with Mathias Tacke and Cyrus Forough. She received her Suzuki training with Edward Kreitman at the Western Springs School for Talent Education. An active violin teacher for over 10 years, Elisabeth has experience teaching private lessons, group classes, and workshops through various programs including Merit, Gasse School of Music, Music Arts School, Suzuki-Orff, and Urban Gateways.

Elisabeth has been playing with the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble since 2000.

They have played at such venues as the University of Chicago Folk Festival, Grant Park Dancing Under the Stars, Symphony Center and recently toured Europe playing at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Yiddish Music Festival in Wien, Germany. She has received full scholarship and a fellowship to KlezKanada, a  Yidwww.continentalmusic.org held in Montreal for the prior 3 years and was asked on as a faculty member to teach 2 workshops this past summer. In addition to Yiddish music, she has also has performed and recorded Greek, Turkish, Assyrian and Arabic music. She has recorded with several bands in the Chicago area including Lamajamal and is the music founder of the Brazilian inspired trio, Solaranga comprised of violin, accordion, and bass.

She continues her training and performance of classical music with her accompanist, David Andrews. The duo has been working and performing together since 2004. She also continues to freelance in various settings in the Chicago area; from orchestras, rock bands, to weddings, galas and parties.