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Born in Ukraine, in 1989, Elina Akselrud obtained a professional music education at the Kiev Lysenko Special Music School for gifted children with Irina Lipatova and Irina Barinova. At age 8 she made her first orchestral appearance (with Sumy Chamber orchestra "Renaissance" - D.Bortnyansky, Concerto in D major). In 1998 and 1999 she became a second prize winner of Alemdar Karamanov International Piano Competition in Simferopol, Ukraine and the International Piano Competition "KONZERTEUM" in Marcopoulo, Greece.
In 2000 she received a special prize "For the Performance of a Debussy piece" at the International Piano Competition in memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Kiev, Ukraine; gave a solo debut at the National Philharmonic Hall of Ukraine, and played with the National Academic Symphony Orchestra under the conduction of Volodymyr Sirenko. During the same year Elina Akselrud has appeared as a solo and chamber musician in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, performing at the Mozarteum University (Salzburg), Salzach Halle (Laufen, the program “Europa’s Junge Talente”) among others.
The beginning of her concert career also includes numerous recitals in major Ukrainian venues such as the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy, The House of Scientists, the “Ukraine” Palace, Kiev, Sumy, Ternopol Philharmonic Halls, along with various concert stages in Odessa, Melitopol and Crimea.
At the Music Festival "Organum" (2001) Elina Akselrud performed Haydn Keyboard Concerto in D major with the Mariupol Chamber Orchestra, as well as gained a 3rd prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Szafarnia, Poland. In 2003 she was awarded a 2nd prize at Anatoly Zatin International Piano Competition (Uzhgorod, Ukraine) and a 5th prize at the International Piano Competition "Citta di Ostra" (Italy).
After moving to the United States of America with her family in 2005 Elina continued her studies with Irina Morozova at the Special Music School of America in New York City. In 2006, as the winner of the Ithaca College Piano Competition'05 (in both Solo and Concerto categories), she had an orchestra debut in the U.S. with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra (Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, conductor Benjamin Aneff). During the same year she also became the 1st prize winner of Empire State Piano Competition in Saratoga Springs, NY.
In 2007 Elina gained a 2nd prize at the Leschetizky Association Piano Concerto Competition in New York City. Same year she was featured at the "Young Artists' Showcase" on the WQXR, hosted by Robert Sherman, as the winner of Woodmere Friday Music Club Young Artists Competition in Hewlett, NY. In 2008 she was awarded an Honorable Mention from the youngARTS, a program of National Foundation of Advancement in the Arts (as one of the top 5% high school seniors of the nation and among the best ones in New York State); gave the world premiere of Andrii Didorenko Trio No.2 with Iryna Kit (violin) and Valeriya Sholokhova (cello) as The EVI Trio at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City; and appeared with the Kaufman Center Orchestra under the conduction of Nathan Hetherington, as a prize-winner of the Special Music School Concerto Competition, with Beethoven Piano Concerto No.2.
E. Akselrud has performed at Mannes Concert Hall, Merkin Hall, Steinway Hall, Tenri Cultural Institute of New York and participated in master classes with Richard Goode, Glenn Dicterow, Marian Hahn, Alexander Braginsky, Baruch Meir, Boris Slutskiy and Eugenia Tsarov.
Currently Elina is supported by The Francis E. and Esther B. Elliott Scholarship Fund as a Bachelor of Music Degree candidate, studying in the studio of Prof. Irina Morozova at Mannes College, The New School for Music in New York City, where she plans to continue her musical education and pursue a professional career.