Sterling Elliott has received raved reviews for his solo performances. Adam Parker of the Charleston Post and Courrier wrote: “Sterling Elliott’s professional career is already is underway, and his concerto provided a perfect vehicle for him to demonstrate his impeccable technique and musicality.” Peter Ingle of the Charleston Today.net wrote: “Sterling Elliott is a name you may hear in the future, but don’t necessarily count on seeing this young cellist in Charleston very often, because we may soon be too small for him. Sterling’s mastery, musicality, and personal charm were all evident Saturday night where he performed Victor Herbert’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in E minor.” Victor Carr Jr. of Classics Today.com wrote: “Elliot’s impeccable musicianship, as well as his discernible love for the music won over the audience, which responded with sustained standing applause.” Zachary Lewis, of The Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote: “Cellist Sterling Elliott, held a full Severance Hall in his grasp with a strikingly mature account of David Popper’s “Hungarian Rhapsody,” a feisty virtuoso showpiece on the Cleveland Orchestra’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert.”  

In spite of such accolades, Sterling has enjoyed a simple, and humble musical journey. He began his cello studies at the age of three under the direction of Suzuki Cello teacher Susan Hines. Sterling, the youngest of 3 siblings, did not originally want to play the cello; he wanted to play the violin like his older brother and sister. After a bit of encouragement, he made The Elliott Family String Quartet perfect by learning to play the cello. Sterling continues to perform frequently with his siblings and mother in the Elliott Family Quartet/Trio.   

Sterling made his solo debut at the age of 7 when he became the first place Junior Division winner of the PYO Concerto Competition, which was the beginning of many other notable accomplishments such as; Grand Prize for the First Presbyterian Young Artist Competition, 1st Place in the York River Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2nd place winner in the 2013 National Sphinx Competition, 1st Place winner in the 2014 National Sphinx Competition, 1st Place winner in the 2014 Richmond Symphony Concerto Competition, and 1st Place in the Bay Youth Orchestra Concerto competition, and 2nd Place in the 2015 Richmond Symphony Concerto Competition, and Runner up in the Hampton Roads Philharmonic Concerto Competition. Sterling has enjoyed the honor of performing for French and American cellist Yo Yo Ma and also performing alongside recording artist Jennifer Hudson. Sterling is proud to have been awarded the 2016 Isaac Stern Award by the Sphinx Organization as well being featured in a 3-page interview in the October 2015 “Strings” Magazine.

For summer study, Sterling has attended The Eastern Music Festival, The Aspen Music Festival, and he was also selected as among the most gifted young musicians in the world to study alongside Itzhak Perlman and Ronald Leonard at the Summer Perlman Music Program. In April 2016, as part of the Perlman Music Program, Sterling attended a 3-week residency in Tel Aviv, Israel where he studied with Paul Katz as well as performed with fellow Israeli Perlman Music Program students.

Professionally, Sterling has soloed with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, The South Bend Symphony Orchestra, The Colours of Music Festival Orchestra, the New World Symphony, The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, as well as a solo performance at a National TED dinner in Vancouver, Canada. In 2015 & 2016 Sterling performed a 7-week national tour with the Sphinx Virtuosi Ensemble which included a stunning performance at Carnegie Hall.

Sterling currently studies with The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s principal cellist Michael Daniels, and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra’s principal cellist Neal Cary. He attends Menchville High School where he is a 4.0 student.