Ellen Pendleton began violin studies at age six in Winter Park, Florida. After studies with noted Concertmaster Arthur Tabachnick, she became the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra at age 14. As a competition winner, she made her debut with the Florida Symphony at 15, and won again the following year with the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Of that performance, The Orlando Sentinel said “…Ellen Pendleton didn’t flinch once as she planted her feet aggressively and met the challenge with a virtuosity rarely heard. This budding star left the audience with chills, tears, and bravos.” Ms. Pendleton has also soloed with The National Repertory Orchestra, The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and The Baltimore Symphony, where she has soloed numerous times in classical, rock, and fiddling styles.

Ms. Pendleton has participated in numerous music festivals including The Aspen Music Festival, The Tanglewood Music Center, Festival Mozaic, and The Steamboat Strings Festival. She was twice chosen by Leonard Bernstein as his Concertmaster for the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestra’s European/Russian tours. Ms. Pendleton joined the first violin section of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1991. She is also Concertmaster of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society.

Ms. Pendleton has presented acclaimed classroom presentations to Maryland’s students since 1994, as well as writing, choreographing, and acting in the BSO’s first musician-authored education concert program, “Music Talks!”

Ms. Pendleton holds a Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School of Music, where she studied with Joseph Fuchs and Joel Smirnoff.