Elissa Lee Koljonen

“Not just assured technique but unflinching purpose and confidence.” -The Detroit News

Recognized as one of the most celebrated violinists of her generation, Elissa Lee Koljonen has thrilled audiences and critics in more than one hundred cities throughout the world. Ms. Koljonen received international acclaim when she became the first recipient of the prestigious Henryk Szeryng Foundation Award and the silver medalist of the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition. Her playing has been hailed by the Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki) as “sparkling, sensual and personal,” and the Chicago Tribune has said she displays “boundless technique and musicianship.”

Ms. Koljonen has performed with such orchestras as the Boston Pops, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic, as well as the symphony orchestras of Bilbao, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Helsinki, and Seoul. She garnered critical acclaim for her appearance with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo in a special concert celebrating the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi Dynasty. She has collaborated with such noted conductors as Matthias Bamert, Dirk Brossé, JoAnn Falletta, Lawrence Foster, Miguel Harth Bedoya, Neeme Järvi, James Judd, Andrew Litton, José-Luis Novo, the late James DePreist, and the late Bryden Thomson.

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Media

Press

“She is…a violinist of immense presence….This was a knowing audience, so it might have detected her exquisite timing and precision. Or perhaps all it sensed was a violinist of considerable soul.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer

“…a big, bright sound, focused pitch, and a sure sense of style…[she] plays with such conviction and assurance, that when you hear her, especially her Bach, it is difficult to challenge her interpretation.”

New York Concert Review

“It was Koljonen who shone, her note-perfect finesse and interpretive flair making this an exemplary performance.”

Strad Magazine

“… plenty of opportunity for the soloist to show off her brilliant finger-work and pungent tone.”

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“…[she] gave Beethoven’s Violin Concerto a performance of high distinction, probing it impeccably in true classic style…”

Miami Herald

“…Her phrasing was thoughtful, and her interpretation lit up with sparks of her own personality…genuine, unexaggerated warmth of expression.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer

“Not just assured technique but unflinching purpose and confidence.”

The Detroit News

Repertoire

  • Concertos

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    Bold selections are concertos of focus for the 2024-25 season. However, all concertos are available for consideration. Current as of June 2023.

    Arensky: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
    Bach: Concerto for Violin No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041
    Bach: Concerto for Violin No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042
    Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
    Beethoven: Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 61
    Beethoven: Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G major, Op. 40
    Beethoven: Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in F major, Op. 50
    Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Op. 56
    Benjamin: Romantic Fantasy for Violin and Viola
    Bernstein: Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium)
    Bottesini: Gran Duo concertante for Violin, Double Bass and Orchestra
    Brahms: Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 77
    Bruch: Concerto for Violin No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
    Bruch: Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D minor, Op. 44
    Bruch: Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 46
    Chausson: Poème for Violin and Orchestra in E-flat major, Op. 25
    Dvorak: Concerto for Violin in A minor, Op. 53
    Dvorak: Romance for Violin and Orchestra in F minor, Op. 11/B 39
    Elgar: Concerto for Violin in B minor, Op. 61
    Glazunov: Concerto for Violin in A minor, Op. 82
    Haydn: Concerto for Violin No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIa/1
    Hubay: Scènes de la Csárda, Op. 32 “Hejre Kati”
    Khachaturian: Violin Concerto in D minor
    Korngold: Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 35
    Lalo: Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 21
    Lehár: Hungarian Fantasy, Op. 45 “Magyar ábránd”
    Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin in E minor, Op. 64
    Mozart: Concerto for Violin No. 1 in B-flat major, K. 207
    Mozart: Concerto for Violin No. 3 in G major, K. 216
    Mozart: Concerto for Violin No. 4 in D major, K. 218
    Mozart: Concerto for Violin No. 5 in A major, K. 219 “Turkish”
    Mozart: Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E major, K. 261
    Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in C major, K. 373
    Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola in E-flat major, K. 364 (320d)
    Piazzolla: Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires)
    Prokofiev: Concerto for Violin No. 1 in D major, Op. 19
    Prokofiev: Concerto for Violin No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
    Ranjbaran: Concerto for Violin
    Ravel: Tzigane for Violin and Orchestra
    Saint-Saëns: Concerto for Violin No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
    Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
    Saint-Saëns: Havanaise for Violin and Orchestra in E major, Op. 83
    Sarasate: Concert Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen”, Op. 25
    Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 (Gypsy Airs)
    Shostakovich: Concerto for Violin No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99 (revision of Op. 77)
    Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor, Op. 47
    Stravinsky: Concerto for Violin in D major
    Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 35
    Theofanidis: On the Edge of the Infinite
    Elissa Lee Koljonen gave the premiere performance in April 1997 with the Orchestre
    Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, conducted by James DePreist
    Vieuxtemps: Concerto for Violin No. 4 in D minor, Op. 31
    Vivaldi: Concerto for Violin in A minor, Op. 3 No. 6/RV 356
    Vivaldi: Concerto for Violin in G minor, Op. 4 No. 6/RV 316a
    Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Violins in A minor, Op. 3 No. 8/RV 522
    Vivaldi: Concertos (4) for Violin, Op. 8 Nos. 1-4 “Le quattro stagioni” (The Four Seasons)
    Walton: Concerto for Violin in B minor

  • Recitals

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    SAMPLE RECITAL PROGRAMS
    Current as of April 2022.

    Sample Program I:
    Mozart: Sonata in A major, K. 305
    Grieg: Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
    -Intermission-
    Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27, No. 2 (“Obsession”)
    Chopin: Nocturne in D major, Op. 27, No. 2, arranged by August Wilhelmj
    Szymanowski: Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28

    Sample Program II: “Tribute to Violinist Composers”
    Vitali: Chaconne in G minor
    Resphigi: Violin Sonata in B minor, P 110
    -Intermission-
    Ellen Taffe Zwillich: Fantasy for Solo Violin (or Ysaye: Solo Sonata)
    Gershwin-Heifetz: Porgy and Bess Suite
    Sarasate: Selections

    Sample Solo Violin Recital:
    Telemann: Fantasia
    Prokofiev: Sonata for Solo Violin in D major, Op. 115
    Zwillich: Fantasy for Solo Violin
    -Intermission-
    Bach: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
    Kreisler: Recitativo and Scherzo, Op. 6

    Repertoire must be approved by Elissa Lee Koljonen. Contact the Curtis Institute of Music representatives below with any inquiries.

Contact

General Management
Andrew Lane
Vice President, Touring and Artist Management
Executive Director, Curtis Artist Management
(215) 717-3124
[email protected]

Booking Representatives (North America)
Julie Gaitens
Booking Representative
(215) 717-3146
[email protected]

Brayton Arvin
Artist Manager and Booking Representative
(215) 875-4204
[email protected]

Booking Representatives (Europe)
Julika Castro
Booking Representative, Europe
+49 (0)178-514 43 26
[email protected]

Engagement Advancing (Curtis Artist Management)
Catelyn Cohen
Manager of Artist Services
(215) 717-3129
[email protected]