Mikaela Elms grew up in Eastern Washington and has recently relocated with her family to Albuquerque. She began playing the cello at the age of 5 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance from Eastern Washington University where she studied under Dr. John Marshall, Bill Conable, and Kendall Feeney. Among her achievements, Mikaela has won multiple concerto competitions including the String Division Young Artist Concerto Competition and the Eastern Washington University Concerto Competition. She has also been featured as a performer on Spokane public radio and has been recognized for her strong chamber music skills. Mikaela has served as a member of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra and the Washington-Idaho Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal cellist and is a substitute cellist for the Spokane Symphony. Mikaela is a passionate and dedicated music educator and has worked as a cello coach with the Spokane Symphony’s Young Musicians Education Program to aid hundreds of cellists in the Spokane School District. As an experienced cello instructor, she has taught cello for over 12 years to students of all ages and backgrounds. Many of her students have gone on to pursue music degrees at reputable institutions. Her approach emphasizes building a strong foundation of technical proficiency in all areas of music while also nurturing a deep appreciation and understanding of music, fostering each student's creativity and interests along the way. In her freetime, Mikaela enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters hiking, playing board games, reading, creating artwork, and arranging music.