Hometown:
Monrovia, California
Education:
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Music 2024
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Master of Music 2026 (expected)
Bio:
Ella Askren is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Cordula Merks & Nancy Zhou. An active orchestral musician, Ella performed at the 2020 Grammy Awards alongside Lang Lang & Joshua Bell, has played with the San Francisco Symphony, and performs regularly with the Oakland, Monterey, Modesto, and Stockton Symphonies. Past summers were spent studying with Gerardo Ribeiro at the Meadowmount School.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I grew up in a family that loves classical music, and something was always playing in the house. David Oistrakh recordings made me fall in love with the violin at a very young age.
Name your favorite composers and/or pieces:
Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, Verklärte Nacht by Arnold Schoenberg, and Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss.
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
I collect classical LPs, especially older Deutsche Grammophon recordings. I love their beautiful album covers, and rotate them on display in my apartment!
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
I like to read and watch movies, play video games, hike, and spend time with my cat, Cleo.
Why did you choose the NRO?
I’m looking forward to how much repertoire we get to play this summer and the challenge of learning it all very quickly, as well as hiking in the area!