Assistant Principal 2nd | Violin
Elise Blake is an experienced violinist based in Washington, DC. She performs with many ensembles including the Baltimore, Richmond, and Virginia Symphonies, the National Philharmonic, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, and Wolf Trap Opera.
She has appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the KC Jukebox Series and the Millennium Stage concerts, and she also recently performed on the faculty recital series at Peabody Conservatory. Each summer Elise travels to Santa Cruz, CA as a member of the Festival Orchestra of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Elise was on string faculty at Mary Baldwin University (Staunton, VA) for five years and has served on adjudication panels for the James Madison University Concerto Competition and the Virginia Music Teachers Association. Currently, Elise runs a violin studio in Rockville, MD, where she resides with her husband David Murray, trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Born and raised in New England, Elise began piano and violin at age three and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Boston University’s School of Music. She also holds a Master of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. Her current violin is made by Denis Cormier and she performs on a Jules Fétique bow