Diane McElfish Helle · Violin

Diane McElfish Helle is the Second Violinist of the Perugino String Quartet, quartet-in-residence at Grand Valley State University since 1997. She also has been a violinist with the Grand Rapids Symphony since 1980 .

First encountering the violin through a public school music program in her native Pittsburgh, McElfish Helle went on to earn a bachelors degree from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University. Her principal teachers include Jens Ellerman, Linda Cerone, and James Buswell . McElfish Helle has served on the faculty of GVSU and has been violin instructor for Interlochen’s All State program.

Off stage, McElfish Helle is very active in organizational matters having served on the boards of both the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Grand Rapids Federation of Musicians. She is also widely recognized from her 20 years as host and regular lecturer for the Symphony’s popular pre-concert series, UpBeat.