Meet Teacher Eli! violin/fiddle

Eli Sonnenmair is a violinist from Portland, who has over a decade of classical training as well as experience playing folk and other genres of music.

Eli started playing the violin at the age of six, taking lessons from the incredible Kate O’Brien until in 2013, he began living and traveling around Latin America, studying with Oaxacan violinist Daniel Cruz Espinosa, as well as other local and indigenous musicians.

After returning to Portland, Eli played with the Rose City Youth Orchestra for 2 years. He then began studying with Paloma Griffin Hebert, a former Oregon Symphony violinist and MYS ensemble director, before attending the University of Redlands on a music scholarship.

Eli has also played with the PSU pit and string orchestras for the last 3 years, performing in their operas and spring concerts. He has taught at Portland Fiddle Camps for 8 years (and was a camper for every year before that) and is currently getting Suzuki Book 1 certification.

When not playing music, Eli can be found with his chocolate lab Xochi, either snuggled up at home or playing fetch at the park.