Elisa Kohanski


Organization: Pittsburgh Ballet
Title: Cellist
Program Graduation: BM, ALP Certificate 1999
Musical Studies: Cello
Musical Specialties: Chamber Music, Large Ensemble
Non-Musical Specialties: Education, Human Development
Quote: “The ALP program prepared me to have a very full and happy life as a performing musician!”

Bio:

Elisa Kohanski enjoys a diverse career as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, while championing unique artistic collaborations. She has performed on stage with Yo Yo Ma, the Miami String Quartet, Olivia Newton John, Robert Shaw, Gustavo Dudamel, John Williams, Harry Connick, Jr., and in performance venues around the world including Carnegie Hall; Royal Albert Hall; Schlossfestspiele in Heidelberg; and Stefaniensaal in Graz, Austria. Elisa is Principal Cellist of Pittsburgh Ballet and Wheeling Symphony, a member of Pittsburgh Opera, performs regularly with Pittsburgh Symphony, Taconic Music and with many other groups. A founding member of Trio Nova Mundi and IonSound Project, Elisa’s recordings include TNM’s Canticum; IonSound’s CD by Jeremy Beck, and Daphne Alderson’s Joan of Arc. She is adjunct faculty at Grove City and Washington and Jefferson Colleges and has taught and performed in festivals around Italy, Germany, Austria and Bosnia. Most recently she was instrumental in starting a small chamber music festival, Taconic International, in Padua, Italy. She earned her Bachelor’s from the Eastman School of Music and her Master’s from Carnegie Mellon University.