Elijah Cole is a guitarist and educator based in Philadelphia, and heard around the world.

It has been quite the year for Elijah Cole: three European tours, the release of his first solo album, performances on stages from NAMM in Los Angeles to Ronnie Scott’s in London. And he’s just getting started.

Elijah released his debut album Universe of One in June, an exploration of solo acoustic guitar music. Drawing from a wide range of influences and genres, the album paints a compelling portrait of one of the most exciting young guitarists on the scene today.

In May of 2025, Elijah was invited to record a series of videos in collaboration with Yamaha Synthesizers in Berlin, Germany. These videos demonstrate Elijah’s talent for moving effortlessly between genres - showcasing Jazz, R&B, Gospel, and Classical influences all while maintaining an original and compelling voice. Elijah was also able to sign as an Influential Partner with Yamaha Music USA following the recording of these videos.

Biography

Elijah got his start in the Washington DC area where he grew up, working from the young age of 14 in the city’s vibrant music scene. He was mentored by DC icons Paul Carr and Michael Bowie, who helped nurture his growth and guide his progress throughout his high school years. He moved to Philadelphia at 18 to study at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music, where he earned a jazz performance degree in 3 years. During his time at Temple, he was fortunate to study under guitarists Peter Bernstein and Mike Moreno. 

Elijah maintains a busy schedule as a leader and a sideman. He has performed with a wide range of notable musicians, including Jumaane Smith, Laurin Talese, Jermaine Dolly, Terell Stafford, SNACKTIME, Eric Wortham, Justin Faulkner, Byron Landham, Warren Wolf, George “Spanky” McCurdy, Mark Whitfield, Charity, and Dana Hawkins. Elijah tours regularly, having performed in over 20 different cities across the United States and Europe in 2025 alone.

In addition to his performance and recording work, Elijah enjoys sharing the gift of music with his private students. He has over a decade of experience working with students across a wide range of musical styles, and maintains a private teaching studio in Philadelphia as well as virtually. He teaches a weekly seminar for Open Studio Jazz, and recently taught at the California Coast Music Camp alongside many notable instructors including Nina Gerber, Cara Luft and Tim May.