Violinist Rachell Ellen Wong made history in 2020 when she was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, becoming the only baroque artist in the program's history to receive the honor. Her exceptional blend of technical virtuosity on gut strings, expressive musicianship, and understanding of period performance practices has garnered international critical acclaim and a dedicated following. With performances across five continents, she has established herself as one of the leading historical performers of her generation, collaborating with esteemed ensembles such as the Academy of Ancient Music, Jupiter Ensemble, Bach Collegium Japan, and Les Arts Florissants, among others. Equally accomplished on the modern violin, Rachell made her first public appearance with Philharmonia Northwest at age 11 and has since performed as a soloist with orchestras such as Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Panamá, Orquesta Sinfónica de Costa Rica, and the Seattle Symphony. Currently, she serves as concertmaster of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and is on faculty at the Valley of the Moon Music Festival in Sonoma, California.
Notable appearances from Rachell's 2023-2024 season include performances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Northwest Sinfonietta, and at Ilumina Music Festival in Sau Paulo, and The Rome Chamber Music Festival. Alongside the exceptional conductor and keyboardist David Belkovski, Rachell is co-founder of Twelfth Night. Founded in 2021, Twelfth Night will be making its Carnegie Hall debut in May 2024.
Among her many awards, Rachell was the Grand Prize winner of the inaugural Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition. Rachell holds degrees from The Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she lives in New York City with her husband and two bunnies.