Elizabeth

Elizabeth Chernyak is a Canadian violist currently pursuing a master’s in viola performance with Hsin-Yun Huang at the Juilliard School. Praised by the Sarasota Observer that she displays “an astounding level of confidence and artistry,” she is a passionate chamber musician, performer, and collaborator. Chernyak’s primary teachers include Luosha Fang, Melissa Reardon, Uli Speth, Daniel Phillips and Marka Gustavsson. She completed her bachelor’s and Advanced Performance Studies at Bard College Conservatory of Music.

Chernyak has attended Sarasota, Kneisel Hall, Colorado College, Meadowmount, Eastern, Round Top, Encore, Borromeo, and Music Mountain Summer Festivals. She has performed on reputable stages across the country including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, with world renowned musicians such as Tommy Mesa, Benjamin Hochman, Ayane Kozasa, Raman Ramakrishnan, Ellen DePasquale, Michael Stephen Brown, and Janet Sung. Chernyak’s orchestral experience includes The Orchestra Now, where she can be heard on their album “Transcription as Translation” under Leon Botstein, Bard Conservatory Orchestra, New York City Orchestra Project, and the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra. Chernyak also attended the New York String Orchestra Seminar in 2024 and 2025, performing under the baton of Jaime Laredo and serving as associate principal.

In pursuit of her passion for modern music and art, Chernyak has collaborated with Sō Percussion, Joan Tower, Tan Dun, the Sinfonietta Project, and the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard to program concerts with contemporary music and has premiered and recorded works by many rising composers including Steven Bonacci, John Brockett, Jayla Kai, and more. Chernyak also performed at Bard’s annual Kurtag Festival in 2026. In 2024 and 2025 she premiered multiple works on both viola and violin with the Bard East/West Ensemble at the China Now Festival and on tour to Washington D.C at the University of Maryland and the Chinese Embassy. 

Chernyak enjoys performing solo works, having won the Binghamton Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition (2020), receiving second prize in the Young Artist Group for the 20th-21st century category of the American Virtuoso International Music Competition (2024), competed as a finalist in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Concerto Competition, and having participated in the Oneonta Concert Association Youth Program (2017) and Saugerties ProMusica, both as a soloist and member of the Suprema Quintet. Chernyak’s other interests include conducting, which she studied with James Bagwell, composition, arts administration, which she has pursued at the Kaatsbaan Cultural Park and Music Mountain, ultimate frisbee, and teaching.

As both a performer and educator, I believe every student deserves an individualized approach to learning. No two students learn in the same way, and I strive to create lessons that are understanding, engaging, and adaptable to each student's age, experience level, learning style, and goals. Whether working with a complete beginner or a more advanced musician, I aim to build confidence while fostering curiosity, discipline, and a genuine love of music.

Through Bard College Conservatory's Music Mentorship Initiative, I had the privilege of teaching beginner students who otherwise would not have had access to private lessons. This experience reinforced my belief that high-quality music education should be accessible to everyone and taught me the importance of meeting students where they are. I learned to explain technical and musical concepts in multiple ways and encourage steady progress while maintaining high expectations for preparation, focus, and musical interpretation.

My own experiences as a performer, collaborator and student have shaped my teaching philosophy. I encourage students to develop not only strong technical foundations but also creativity, and confidence in making musical decisions. I believe the best learning takes place in an environment that is supportive yet challenging, where students feel comfortable asking questions and striving for excellence. My goal is to help every student become not only a stronger musician, but also a thoughtful, independent, and lifelong learner.