Elisabeth Adkins, violin
After graduating from the University of North Texas, Elisabeth completed both a master's degree and a doctorate at Yale, where she studied with Oscar Shumsky. In 1983 she was named associate concertmaster of the National Symphony in Washington, where she has established a solid reputation as a concerto performer and recitalist.

In one 2001 performance Elisabeth was featured with the National Symphony at the special request of Iona Brown, with whom she played Bach's Concerto for Two Violins. The same season she joined her brother Christopher in a memorable performance of the Brahms Concerto for Violin and Cello with the Dallas Symphony. The following season Elisabeth and youngest sister Madeline, assistant concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony, shared solo billing in a concert with the BSO featuring each sister in a concerto performance.

As solo violinist of the 20th-Century Consort, Elisabeth is a noted interpreter of the contemporary repertoire. Reviewers across the country have praised her playing in phrases such as "a spectacular performance," "a world-class violinist," "an impeccable technique and a tone that melted the heart and charmed the soul." Joseph McLellan, reviewing one of her recitals for the Washington Post, remarked: "As I listened to Adkins, I realized that there is no violinist (including Perlman, Menuhin--anyone) whose playing I prefer."

In their "free" time, Elisabeth and her husband Edward take great delight in their growing family-Gregory, 6 years old, and Cecily, now 3.