Ellen Hayashi (17) is a senior, honor-roll student at Cottonwood High School. She is a Dorothy and Richard Starling Foundation Scholar studying with Eugene Watanabe and a student in the Gifted Music School full-scholarship Conservatory. Ellen made her orchestral debut at age 10 with the Utah Philharmonic Orchestra. Since then, she has performed with a number of orchestras in Utah, including twice with the Utah Symphony. Ellen is a two-time finalist at the Coeur D’Alene National Young Artists Competition, a finalist at the Blount-Slawson Young Artist Competition, and a top prize winner in the ENKOR International Music Violin Competition. As a member of The BEAR Quartet, Ellen was a gold medalist in the Pasadena Conservatory of Music Chamber Music Competition, the WDAV Young Chamber Musicians’ Competition, the ENKOR International Music Competition, and the St. Paul String Quartet Competition, and was featured on NPR’s From The Top (Show 367). Ellen has attended the Aspen Music Festival and School, studying with Masao Kawasaki of the Juilliard School, and has been a Starling Scholarship recipient at the Center Stage Strings Accelerated Chamber Program, studying with Danielle Belen of the University of Michigan. Ellen also has participated in numerous masterclasses with renowned artists, such as Midori, Stefan Jackiw, Benjamin Beilman, and Arnold Steinhardt. Besides violin, Ellen likes hiking, being with friends, and hanging out with her dog Treble.
