Violinist.
Ernest Bisong is a classically trained violinist who was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He picked up the violin at the age of nine, after a short stint with the clarinet. He has since studied with several notable string tutors and performers including Rachel Barton-Pine (U.S.A.), Randy Sabien (U.S.A.), Daria Adams (violinist, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra), Sir Godfrey Amoah (Ghana) and Thomas Kanitz (Germany). In July 2013, he became the first Nigerian to obtain Performance Diploma certification from the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London with a distinction. Ernest is also a self taught jazz musician and has performed at concerts such as the Smooth FM Luxury Concert, the Lagos Jazz Festival, and the St. Paul Jazz Festival. He has as also opened concerts for Mike Stern, Richard Bona, Marcus Johnson, Anita Baker, and Marsha Ambrosius. In 2012, he was on the Nigerian contingent to perform at the African Showcase of the SXSW in Austin, TX. In the maiden edition of Venture Career Journal Nigeria released in 2013, he was referred to as “arguably Africa’s foremost contemporary violinist.” In 2016, he performed with Sheila E during the Prince Tribute Concert held at Minnesota’s prestigious Orchestra Hall. Ernest is currently a mentor with the Mobile Jazz Project which currently uses music and the arts as a conduit for reaching inner-city youths in the Twin Cities. Ernest currently holds a masters degree from McNally Smith College of Music in violin performance and is currently completing a second masters in Education at the University of St. Thomas also in St. Paul, Minnesota. He performs locally and across the country with the Ernest Bisong Group.
