Eli Howells
Violin
Fiddler, violinist, and educator rooted in the traditions of Ireland and Scotland and shaped by a lifetime of classical and contemporary music. Available for private lessons, recording sessions, and live performances
Current Services
I maintain a private violin and fiddle studio in Graham, North Carolina, working with students of different ages, experience levels, and musical interests. I teach classical violin alongside Irish, Scottish, and American fiddle, with lessons tailored to each student’s goals and musical interests.
Whether you're picking up the violin for the first time, strengthening your technique, or learning to fiddle a tune you've had stuck in your head for six months, my goal is to make learning challenging, rewarding, and genuinely enjoyable.
I work as a violin and fiddle session musician, bringing a background in classical violin and Irish, Scottish, and American fiddle to recording projects across a wide range of styles. I’m comfortable working from written music, charts, recordings, or simply an idea, and I enjoy finding the part that makes a track come alive.
From a polished string part to a raw traditional fiddle line, I’m always happy to dig into a new project and help shape the sound.
From Irish traditional music to indie, folk, and Celtic punk, I bring years of professional performing and touring experience to every stage. Since 2016, I’ve toured throughout the United States and Ireland with Tan and Sober Gentlemen, performing at festivals including MerleFest, FloydFest, Electric Picnic, and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. I also regularly play for dancers and collaborate with ensembles throughout the region.
Whether you need a fiddler for a dance, a traditional ensemble, or something with considerably more volume and questionable life choices, I’d love to hear what you have in mind.
Student Testimonials
“Eli has been an incredibly enthusiastic, kind, and knowledgeable teacher! I am an adult beginner fiddle player and have come so far with his teaching support over 2+ years. His ability to teach classical, Irish, and bluegrass helped me form a solid foundation in technique and to play across genres.
My experience was so positive that my teen violinist began learning from him too - she says ‘Eli is awesome.’ We loved how Eli was flexible to do dual lessons where we learned to play fiddle duets together. I highly recommend Eli as a teacher for all ages!”
Gayle Hagler“Eli has been our violin teacher for many years, and he meets each student exactly where they are. He's incredibly knowledgeable about the instrument and about music itself, and he uses that knowledge to make lessons genuinely fun while challenging and helping the student grow.
I've watched my daughter grow from a child into a teenager under his teaching, and Eli has been a constant through it all: the stretches when she didn't want to practice, and the stretches when she plays multiple times a day. He doesn't just teach technique, he helps her find real joy and steady progress in her violin journey. As an educator, he guides each student on their own individual path, and I have no doubt she'll carry her love of violin forward because of the foundation he's built with her.”
Jessica K. Higgins, PhD