Eleanor Angel, Viola, Violin and Chamber Music, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and her Masters of Music from the Eastman School of Music. She was privileged to have studied intensively as a private student with Sir William Primrose, between degree programs.
Eleanor’s pre-and postgraduate studies have taken her to the San Francisco Conservatory, the Globe Institute (Psychoacoustics and sound healing), Yale-Norfolk (Chamber Music), Tanglewood Institute (on three years full scholarships), and numerous prestigious festivals across the United States and abroad in Italy (Perugia and Siena-Ulrich Koch) Switzerland- Sommer Musikwoken Scholarship-John Adams) and England (Prussia Cove- Sandor Vegh)
Professionally, Ms. Angel has performed as Principal Viola, section player and/or soloist extensively throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Highlights have included decades or playing with the Midsummer Mozart Festival Orchestra- Maestro George Cleve, The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music- under direction on Marin Alsop, and she has been a member of Symphony San Jose (previously San Jose Symphony-Symphony Silicon Valley) since 1984. She has been a featured soloist with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, the Bach and Music in the Mountains Festivals and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, among others. Her extensive solo repertoire ranges from the Baroque to Modern Concertos.
Eleanor’s passion for teaching has spanned her career. She maintains a studio of private students of all ages and levels and is a sought after coach for young and adult ensembles. She inspires and instructs with her violin and viola while coaching Chamber music to adults at Cabrillo College, and during her popular in-school presentations. Chamber Music has always been central to Eleanor’s endeavors. She has co-founded the Sunrise and Pegasus String Quartets, the Bridge Piano Quartet and is presently Principal Viola for the Nova Solisti.
Eleanor can be heard on numerous recordings and is presently writing a book about her studies with William Primrose.