Draft:Alicia Enstrom
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 5 weeks or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 2,568 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
Alicia Enstrom | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983 (age 42–43) Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music |
| Genres |
|
| Occupations | violinist, composer, producer, and multi-disciplinary performance artist |
| Instrument | violin |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Formerly of | |
| Awards |
|
| Website | aliciaenstrom |
Alicia Enstrom (born in 1983) is an American violinist, composer, producer, and multi-disciplinary performance artist.[4][5][6] She blends classical violin with modern live electronic looping, theater, and aerial arts.[1]
Over her multi-decade career, Enstrom has performed globally as a solo artist, toured internationally as a featured lead instrumentalist with Cirque du Soleil and the worldbeat ensemble Barrage, and contributed to commercial recordings.[7] In 2021, she received an Academy of Country Music Award nomination for her technical achievements as an industry musician, and won the International Songwriting Competition for Instrumental Music.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Enstrom was born and grew up in Topeka, Kansas.[8][9] She attended Topeka West High School, graduating in 2002, and was inducted in 2014 into the Topeka West High School Sports Hall of Fame for soccer and golf.[10][11][1] She then graduated magna cum laude in classical violin from Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music in 2009.[12][13] She also served as concertmaster during a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2010.[14][15]
Career
[edit]Ensemble and theatrical touring
[edit]Enstrom performed globally with the worldbeat ensemble Barrage in 2005 to 2008, and spent nearly a decade touring with Cirque du Soleil in 2009 to 2015 as a solo electric violinist in productions like Quidam and Wintuk.[3][8][12] This physical theater background inspired her to incorporate aerial acrobatics and dance into her violin performances.[6]
Session work and collaborations
[edit]Based in Nashville, Enstrom became a session player for award shows and albums featuring artists such as Paul McCartney, John Legend, and Dolly Parton.[1] She is a longtime and close collaborator of Ed Sheeran, who has referred to her as his "dear, dear friend".[4][16] She also recorded for film, television, and video game franchises including Call of Duty and Fortnite.[1][17]
Solo work and classical leadership
[edit]As a solo artist, she releases experimental instrumental music using live looping pedals.[1][3] Enstrom also has served as artistic director for the ALIAS Chamber Ensemble of Nashville since 2018, and performed with chatterbird since 2017.[18][15][19] In 2020, she released a new loopmusic album entitled "Monsters."[20] Her surname is an anagram for Monster.[20]
Ed Sheeran tour backing ensemble
[edit]In September 2026, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran recruited Enstrom to assemble and lead a new live Loop Tour backing ensemble for him within 72 hours. [21][22] It was for a performance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, following a tour controversy.[23][24][25] Sheeran, introducing Enstrom, said: "I rung up a friend of mine, she's a superb human and I toured with her all of last year [on my Mathematics Tour] and the one the year before that. I said to her, "Would you stand on stage with me?" And she said, yes. I asked her if she knew some musician friends and she said yes, and they've had three days to learn these songs.'"[26]
Awards and honors
[edit]- Winner, The Ear Classical Composition Competition (2018)[3][18]
- Winner, Unsigned Only Music Competition (2020)[1]
- Nominee, Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for Specialty Instrument Player of the Year (2021)[2]
- Winner, International Songwriting Competition for Instrumental Music (2021)[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "About — Alicia Enstrom". AliciaEnstrom.com.
- 1 2 3 "ACM Awards Nominees Announced". Hits Daily Double. February 26, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Meet Alicia Enstrom". CanvasRebel. April 4, 2024.
- 1 2 Borg, Janelle (September 21, 2026). "Ed Sheeran assembles a new backing band after Beoga withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore". Guitar World. Yahoo! Entertainment.
- ↑ "Circus brings Topekan home for the holidays". The Topeka Capital-Journal. December 23, 2012.
- 1 2 "Maestra Profile -Alicia Enstrom". Maestra Music.
- ↑ "Alliance for Women Film Composers - Profile: Alicia Enstrom". Alliance for Women Film Composers.
- 1 2 "Mother West - Artists: Alicia Enstrom". Mother West Records.
- ↑ Zhou, Naaman (September 22, 2026). "Even Ed Sheeran's Apology Took Both Sides". The New Yorker.
- ↑ "Athletic Hall of Fame - Topeka West High School". Topeka West High School. Topeka Public Schools.
- ↑ "Topeka West to induct 2014 hall of fame class". The Topeka Capital-Journal. September 22, 2014.
- 1 2 "Blair School of Music Faculty & Alumni Profiles". Vanderbilt University.
- ↑ Long, Dale H. (September 11, 2008). "Violin/fiddle group opens Rose series". Tribune-Star.
- ↑ "Member Bio: Alicia Enstrom". Chatterbird.
- 1 2 Cardona, Nina (January 8, 2018). "Enstrom To Replace Bowers As Artistic Director Of Nashville's ALIAS Chamber Ensemble". 91Classical.
- ↑ Hashmi, Areeba (September 20, 2026). "Ed Sheeran cries onstage and introduces his new backing band: Who are the musicians?". Gulf News.
- ↑ "Flame Keepers – Flash Back". Metropolis Ensemble.
- 1 2 Wheelahan, Colleen (August 15, 2018). "Live in Studio C: Alicia Enstrom". 91Classical. Nashville Public Radio.
- ↑ "chatterbird ensemble - Member Bio: Alicia Enstrom". chatterbird.
- 1 2 delarue (February 12, 2020). "Catchy Space-Pop From Violinist Alicia Enstrom". New York Music Daily. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ↑ Brendan Menapace (September 20, 2026). "Ed Sheeran Steps Up With New Live Ensemble in Philadelphia Following Tour Controversy". Billboard.
- ↑ Charisma Madarang, Maya Georgi (September 19, 2026). "Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence on Live Band Shakeup Amid Macklemore Concert Row". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Will Groff (September 20, 2026). "Ed Sheeran returns to stage in Philadelphia with newly assembled backing ensemble". The Guardian.
- ↑ Ben Sisario (September 19, 2026). "How a Sudden Tour Controversy Forced Ed Sheeran to Rebuild His Band in 72 Hours". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Ed Sheeran Concert Shakeup After Macklemore Stage Controversy". The Daily Telegraph. September 20, 2026.
- ↑ Miranda Siwak (September 20, 2026). "Ed Sheeran Praises New Live Band for Standing With Him Amid Stadium Tour Controversy". Us Weekly .
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Alicia Enstrom on YouTube
- Alicia Enstrom at IMDb
- Alicia Enstrom discography at MusicBrainz
Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:American ambient musicians Category:American classical violinists Category:American women composers Category:Cirque du Soleil performers Category:Vanderbilt University alumni Category:Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee Category:Musicians from Topeka, Kansas