I was born into a Christian home in El Salvador, and I learned
about God at an early age. I accepted Jesus Christ in a Sunday
morning church service when I was 8 years old. Since I opened my
heart to Him, He has continually worked in my life and blessed
me abundantly.
Praise Him for His Mighty Acts
I am grateful for the ability God has given me to play the violin.
I started my violin studies when I was 5 years old. By the time
I turned 16, I had joined the El Salvador National Symphony
Orchestra. After finishing high school, I decided to pursue
music as my profession. In El Salvador, it is not possible to study
music at a university; I knew I would have to study abroad. My
parents could not afford my studies in a foreign country, so my
family, my friends, and I started praying that God would open
an opportunity for me to study overseas. God answered a year
later when I received a full-tuition scholarship to pursue my
bachelor’s degree in violin performance at Biola University and,
later, another full-tuition scholarship to earn my master’s degree
at the University of Cincinnati.
Psalm 37:4 has meant so much to me throughout my life:
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of
your heart.” Delighting yourself in the Lord means to fully enjoy
being a Christian, to put Christ first in your life, to let Him lead
you wherever He wants you to go, and to reflect Him in your life.
I have found that as I have done this, God has helped me achieve
my desires in life.
Praise Him With Stringed Instruments
One of my desires was to become a professional musician. After
finishing graduate work at Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of
Music, I wanted to play in a symphony orchestra. God led me to
the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan, where I was part of
the first violin section. I was there for four years and was invited
to play in different churches, meeting many Christians in several
cities throughout Japan.
I wanted to further my violin studies, so I moved back to the
United States. I applied to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh
to pursue my Artist Diploma, a postgraduate degree focused in
violin performance. God was again faithful, providing me with
an assistantship to fully cover my tuition. God has greatly blessed
me by allowing me to complete my entire education on full-tuition
scholarships. Since God has given me so much throughout my life,
I want to show my appreciation to Him by using my music as a
ministry for His glory.
Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord
Eventually, I felt God leading me to serve in Christian higher
education, something God had begun showing me during my
time at Biola. Studying at a Christian institution helped me to
grow in my walk with the Lord and prepared me to succeed in my
professional career. When I learned about the opportunity to teach
at Cedarville, I applied and was invited for a campus interview.
During my visit, I felt God’s presence through the faculty, students,
and staff of the University. I was offered the position of violin
professor and conductor of the orchestra. Having previously
taught for 14 years at a state institution, I can attest to the special
environment that exists at Cedarville. It is a unique experience
to gather every morning in chapel to praise our Lord and learn
from His Word.
As a professor at Cedarville, I want to prepare my students to
succeed in their careers, as well as to help themapply the knowledge
they gain to the service of Jesus Christ. I want my students to not
only talk about Christ, but to reflect Him in their daily lives to
make an impact in the world. I want people to be intrigued by their
actions, their answers, and their attitudes. I want them to see the
joy that only Jesus Christ can provide.
Carlos Elias
is a Professor of Music and Conductor of
Cedarville’s Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in solo
recitals and orchestras in eight countries and was previously
Concertmaster of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra
and Artistic Director and Conductor of the Symphony in the
Valley in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. You may contact him at
Visit
to preview Carlos’ instrumental CD,
Let’s Tango
, featuring duets with his wife, pianist Andrea Arese-Elias.
by Carlos Elias
Cedarville Magazine
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