Elvina Liu
Cambridge,MA
Summary
22-year-old international student from New Zealand, an avid taste-maker of all types of music, a vibrant conversationalist, and a go-getter with any task at hand. Graduated Summa Cum Laude with Department Honors from SUNY Stony Brook University (B.A Music), and have been blessed with various leadership opportunities throughout my college career, including President of Asian Student Alliance at Longy, several concertmaster assignments, and Student Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Trailblazing multi-genre violinist with demonstrated skills in learning and performing both contemporary, jazz, and classical pieces. Talented in memorizing, improvizing, and playing pieces by ear. Ensemble and orchestra experience. Teacher of violin to private students and an El-Sistema afterschool program in East Somerville, MA. Production staff at Longy School of Music and Celebrity Series of Boston.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Primary Admissions Interviewer
Berklee College of Music
06.2024 - Current
- Conducted interviews with participants to assess eligibility.
- Optimized the prospective student experience through strong customer service.
- Assisted in coordination of on-site interviews, managing schedule to stay organized.
- Utilized behavioral-based interviewing techniques to evaluate candidates' experience and skills.
- Built relationships with recruiters and hiring managers to enhance success of recruitment process.
- Collaborated with other HR team members to develop more comprehensive and successful interview processes.
- Conducted video interviews to assess candidates based in remote locations.
Front of House Usher
Celebrity Series of Boston
10.2023 - Current
- Greeted customers with smile and provided friendly, knowledgeable service.
- Ran marketing table for Celebrity Series to draw in more subscribing/recurring audience members.
- Assisted patrons with seating by giving directions and lighting paths.
- Worked with other staff members to facilitate smooth flow of operations.
- Maintained professional demeanor to represent venue and create positive impression.
- Maintained updated knowledge of event information to provide guests with accurate details.
- Provided information about future events at facility/being hosted by Celebrity Series.
Violin Teaching Artist
Somerville Public Schools
09.2023 - Current
- Taught violin and ensemble technique to students in grades 3-8 across a wide range of ability levels.
- Fostered love for music and learning to inspire students to pursue passions and interests.
- Created supportive and inclusive learning environments to foster positive classrooms that support student growth and learning.
- Led rehearsals to provide direction to students during practice sessions.
- Established and maintained standards of student behavior to promote orderly and productive practice, group rehearsals and violin performances.
- Differentiated music curriculum to meet needs of individual students.
- Communicated with parents to maintain regular communication about student progress and any concerns.
Production Staff
Longy School of Music of Bard College
09.2023 - Current
- Sold admission, processed payments, and issued tickets.
- Greeted customers with smile and provided friendly, knowledgeable service.
- Worked with other staff members to facilitate smooth flow of operations.
- Remained highly composed and calm in very fast-paced, stressful and constantly changing environment.
- Performed proper maintenance and use of lighting/sound/AV equipment, ensuring safety, and quality operations.
- Assisted in technical and practical effect setup for performances at Longy and broke down all equipment at close of each show.
Freelance Musician
Various
09.2023 - Current
- Specialized in both classical, jazz, and contemporary music.
- Scheduled rehearsals with other musicians and choirs.
- Promoted musical career by maintaining website or social media presence.
- Performed in 40+ paid gigs.
- Built networks with local musicians to provide session support for gigs and events.
- Wrote and arranged original compositions for live music performances.
- Transposed music to alternate keys with speed and accuracy.
- Provided musical background for live shows such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.
Private Violin Teacher
Self-Employed
01.2017 - Current
- Taught a range of young and mature violin students violin technique, and focused on developing each students' artistic voices.
- Differentiated music curriculum to meet needs and wants of individual students.
- Reflected critically on teaching practice to implement improvement strategies.
- Established and maintained standards of student behavior to promote orderly and productive practice and violin performances.
- Communicated with parents to maintain regular communication about student progress and any concerns.
Education
Master of Music - Violin Performance
Longy School of Music of Bard College
Cambridge, MA05-2025
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY05-2023
High School Diploma -
St Cuthbert's College
Auckland, New Zealand12-2018
Skills
- Creative instruction
- Performance coaching
- Arts integration
- Student engagement
- Classroom management
- Student mentoring
- Lesson planning
- Music education
- Music theory
Accomplishments
SOLO PERFORMANCES
W.A. Mozart - Violin Concerto no.4 in D Major (2023)
- With Stony Brook University Orchestra
J. Brahms - Violin Concerto in D Major (2023)
- With Stony Brook University Orchestra as the first place winner of undergraduate concerto competition
P.I. Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto in D Major (2021)
- With Devonport Chamber Orchestra
L. Beethoven - Romance in F Major (2018)
- With St Cuthbert's College Black Watch Orchestra
J. Haydn - Violin Concerto in G Major (2013)
- With APPA Festival Orchestra
J. Williams - Remembrances from Schindler's List (2014)
- Young Achiever's Winner's Concert, Auckland Town Hall
NOTABLE SOLO ACHIEVEMENTS
DipABRSM with Distinction, Violin (2017)
ABRSM Grade 8 with Distinction, Violin (2012)
Trinity Performance Certificate, Piano (2016)
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Young Achiever's Award (2018)
New Zealand Secondary School Chamber Music Competition Junior Prize (2016)
Joan Kerr Gold Award for National Finalist, New Zealand Secondary Schools Chamber Music Competition (2018)
Cremona International Music Academy Strings Competition, 3rd Place (2017)
Stony Brook Undergraduate Concerto Competition, 3rd Place (2020)
Stony Brook Undergraduate Concerto Competition, 1st Place (2023)
ORCHESTRAL/ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE
* denotes concertmaster position held
New Zealand (ORCHESTRAL/ENSEMBLE)
- APPA Symphonic Orchestra*
- APPA Festival Orchestra*
- Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (student/casual positions)
- North Shore Junior Orchestra
- Waitaki Summer Music Camp Orchestra
- Auckland Youth Orchestra*
- St Cuthbert's College Chamber Orchestra (Sebastian Squad)*
- St Cuthbert's College Symphony Orchestra (Black Watch)*
New Zealand (CHAMBER)
- Melomane Trio
§ M. Moszkowski, Suite for Two Violins and Piano, Op.71
- Sputnik the Oktet
§ D. Shostakovich, Two Pieces for String Octet, Op.11
§ F. Mendelssohn, String Octet in E-flat Major, Op.20
- Amio Piano Quartet
§ B. Hoadley, Four Preludes (NZ)
§ L. Beethoven, Piano Quartet no. 3 in C
§ J. Brahms, Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 25
§ G. Mahler, Piano Quartet
§ A. Schoenberg, Transfigured Night (with Mark Menzies, Robert Ashworth, Edith Salzmann)
United States of America (ORCHESTRAL/ENSEMBLE)
- Stony Brook University Orchestra*
- Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra
- MIT Symphony Orchestra
- Tufts New Music Ensemble
- Riverside Theatre Works Pit
- Orchestra FLEX (Longy)*
United States of America (CHAMBER)
- Stony Brook University Quintet
§ J. Brahms, Quintet in F minor, Op.34
- Stony Brook University Duet (2 Violins)
§ B. Bartok, 44 Duos for 2 Violins, Sz. 98
- Longy String Quartet (Ensemble Uncaged)
§ K. Sariaaho, Terra Memoria
- Trio Idoneus (Formed at Longy)
§ F. Mendelssohn, Piano Trio in D Minor, Op.11
§ C. Debussy, Piano Trio in G Major
- Palaver Strings
United States of America (Jazz/Contemporary)
- Longy JCM Jazz Foundations
- Longy JCM Art Ensemble
- Tufts New Music Ensemble
International (ORCHESTRAL)
- Cremona International Music Academy Orchestra
International (CHAMBER)
- Cremona International Music Academy Trio
§ E. Lalo, Piano Trio no. 3 in A Minor, Op. 26
§ M. Ravel, Piano Trio in A Minor
§ A. Babadjanian, Piano Trio in F Sharp Minor
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Primary Admissions Interviewer
Berklee College of Music
06.2024 - Current
Front of House Usher
Celebrity Series of Boston
10.2023 - Current
Violin Teaching Artist
Somerville Public Schools
09.2023 - Current
Production Staff
Longy School of Music of Bard College
09.2023 - Current
Freelance Musician
Various
09.2023 - Current
Private Violin Teacher
Self-Employed
01.2017 - Current
Master of Music - Violin Performance
Longy School of Music of Bard College
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance
Stony Brook University
High School Diploma -
St Cuthbert's College
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