Elsa Nilsson

Elsa Nilsson joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in 1977. Prior to her appointment with the SPCO, she served as concertmaster of the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, and was a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Pittsburgh Chamber Players. During her time with the SPCO, she has appeared with the Minneapolis Artists Ensemble, Ensemble Capriccio, and the Musical Offering. Between SPCO seasons, she has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra and at the Grand Teton Festival in Wyoming, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific in British Columbia. Nilsson graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Paul Makanowitzky, Jaime Laredo and Ivan Galamian. She served as Galamian’s assistant at Curtis for three years and at the Meadowmount School for four years. She continues to teach and coach private violin students.