Elijah grew up in a small town called "Ninety Six" in the Piedmont of South Carolina. His first band was a praise band for his church youth ministry. His hometown is the site of the Revolutionary War battle of Star Fort. The church and a love of history have both been important influences for Elijah's music.
Elijah took private lessons with Mr. Mike Newell, owner of Newell's Music (www.newellsmusiconline.com) and Berklee College of Music alumnus, for 3 years. It was during those years that he began to realize music was going to be a lifelong passion and his dream of becoming a professional musician took hold.
In the summer after the 8th grade, Elijah was accepted to the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities' summer Discovery Program (www.scgsah.org ). He studied classical guitar there for two summers and was then accepted into the Residential Program for his junior and senior years of high school. While attending the Governor's School, Elijah visited Italy with the Music Department and performed at the Vatican with the Choral Ensemble.
Elijah is presently a senior at Berklee College of Music (www.berklee.edu) in Boston, Massachusetts.
