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Legacy in Harmony: Fundraiser Launched to Honour Cellist Christian Elliott
Posthumous album to celebrate Elliott’s artistry while raising awareness for ME/CFS research
A new fundraiser has been launched to honour the memory of Canadian cellist, composer, and arranger Christian Elliott, who died in April 2025 at age 40 following a brief but intense battle with Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Spearheaded by pianist Robin Green, the Christian Elliott Legacy Project aims to produce a posthumous recording of Elliott’s original compositions and arrangements. The project, which has a funding goal of £8,000, is being supported by a roster of world-renowned musicians and institutions—including the Zehetmair Quartet, cellist Steven Isserlis, Katherine Hunka, and Bartholomew LaFollette. The Irish Chamber Orchestra has offered studio space, and UK label Orchid Classics will assist with production costs.
“Christian inspired so many with his creative imagination, prodigious intellect, generous spirit, and his rare ability to bring out the very best in those around him,” Green writes on the GoFundMe page. “His loss has devastated a wide community of family, friends, and fellow musicians who can’t imagine a world without him.”
Elliott was widely respected for his musical range and sincerity. He served as principal cello of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and was a core member of ensembles such as the Zehetmair Quartet and the Phoenix Piano Trio. As a composer and arranger, Elliott’s work blended genres and generations, from intricate chamber pieces to imaginative arrangements of classics by Fauré and The Beatles.
Planned for release in 2027, the upcoming album will spotlight selections from Elliott’s rich body of chamber music. Works to be featured include Amulet for string sextet, The Modern Prometheus for cello and piano, Celestial Ripples for string quartet, and his five-cello arrangement of Fauré’s Nocturnes. One highlight is Elliott’s arrangement of Let It Be for clarinet and string quartet—an example of his ability to infuse well-loved music with fresh emotional depth.
Beyond celebrating his legacy, the fundraiser also hopes to contribute to ME/CFS research. Elliott’s struggle with the disease—which is often misunderstood and underfunded—was, according to Green, “devastating and ultimately fatal.”
“Knowing Christian, he would want something creative and meaningful to come from his death,” writes Green. “Together with his wonderful parents, Denyse and Garry, we felt that a legacy project was the most fitting way to honour and commemorate him.”
Once production costs are covered, any remaining donations will be directed to a charity chosen by Elliott’s parents to support ME/CFS research.
Supporters are encouraged to contribute to the campaign and share Elliott’s work. Some of his standout performances can be viewed on YouTube, including emotionally resonant interpretations of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Piazzolla’s Camorra 3, and even a lush, lyrical rendition of the E.T. film theme.
For more information or to donate, visit the Christian Elliott Legacy Project GoFundMe page.