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Elinor Frey is a Canadian cellist and baroque musician who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and innovative interpretations of early music. Born in Montreal, Quebec in 1978, Frey began playing the cello at the age of nine and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. She went on to study at McGill University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance, and later at the Université de Montréal, where she completed a Master of Music degree in baroque cello. Frey's early career was marked by a series of notable achievements and performances. In 2000, she won first prize in the Early Music America Baroque Performance Competition, which led to her debut as a soloist with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra. She also performed as a member of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, one of Canada's leading early music ensembles, and toured extensively with the group throughout North America and Europe. In 2005, Frey was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed her to study with renowned baroque cellist Christophe Coin in Paris. This experience had a profound impact on her musical development, and she credits Coin with helping her to refine her technique and deepen her understanding of the baroque repertoire. Since then, Frey has established herself as one of the leading baroque cellists of her generation. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician with many of the world's top early music ensembles, including Les Arts Florissants, the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. She has also collaborated with a number of contemporary composers, including Linda Catlin Smith, Scott Godin, and Michael Oesterle, and has premiered several new works for the baroque cello. Frey's discography is equally impressive, with several critically acclaimed recordings to her name. Her debut album, La voce del violoncello, was released in 2013 and features solo works for the baroque cello by Italian composers such as Domenico Gabrielli and Giovanni Battista Degli Antonii. Her second album, Berlin Sonatas, was released in 2015 and showcases the music of Johann Gottlieb Graun, a lesser-known contemporary of Bach and Handel. Her most recent album, Fiorè, was released in 2018 and features works for the baroque cello and voice by Italian composer Benedetto Ferrari. In addition to her performing and recording career, Frey is also a dedicated educator and researcher. She has taught at several universities and conservatories, including McGill University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Montreal, and has given masterclasses and workshops around the world. She is also a published author and has written articles and essays on a variety of topics related to early music and the baroque cello. Frey's contributions to the world of early music have not gone unnoticed, and she has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. In 2012, she was awarded the Prix Goyer, one of Canada's most prestigious awards for classical musicians, which recognizes outstanding achievement in early music performance. She has also been a finalist for the Prix Opus, another major Canadian music award, and has received grants and fellowships from organizations such as the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Despite her many accomplishments, Frey remains humble and dedicated to her craft.

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