Ellie Liu

Ellie Liu is a 16‑year‑old cellist from Portland, Oregon, who has studied with Ms. Hyun‑Jin Kim since she was six. As a soloist, Ellie has appeared with the Willamette Falls Symphony Orchestra and the Jewish Community Orchestra after winning their respective concerto and young artist competitions. She has also appeared as a soloist with members of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, earning recognition as a Young Star Award Winner.

Beyond her solo work, Ellie has been active in national youth orchestras, participating in National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2) as Assistant Principal Cellist, the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute as Principal Cellist, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute as Principal Cellist on a merit scholarship, and the NAfME All-Northwest Orchestra as Assistant Principal Cellist.

Much of Ellie’s orchestral experience has grown through her longtime involvement with the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP), which she joined at age nine, and has served as Co-Principal Cellist of both the PYP Orchestra and PYP Camerata since age fourteen.

Ellie’s recent honors include being named First Place National Winner of the Mary Alice Cox Cello Award, a $2,500 scholarship presented by the National Federation of Music Clubs. In 2026, Ellie earned Second Place in the OMEA/OSAA State Cello Solo Competition, and her string quintet was named Oregon State Champion at the OMEA/OSAA State Ensemble Contest. Additional distinctions include Gold Medalist in the Bellevue Symphony Young Artist Competition, winner of the 2023 MetroArts Young Artist Debut! Competition, and Alternate Winner of the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.