Vov Dylan
Quick Facts
Biography
Vov Dylan is an Australian violinist. He holds the title of " World's Fastest Violinist" has multiple albums distributed globally by Ambition Entertainment and tours throughout Australia and the globe with his own show "Beyond the Danube".
Early life
Vov Dylan is a third-generation musician. Grandparents Fred and Beryl Elsley were both pianists, and his father Evan Elsley is also a violinist.
Born with the name Wodzislaw Dylan Elsley, this was rapidly shrunk to Vov Dylan Elsley by the time he went to school, and then adopted the performing name of Vov Dylan in 1998.
Vov started his musical training at the age of 21 months and he was in constant demand with appearances on recordings, TV, and concert stages. He was also the recipient of a music scholarship to Newington College.
Career
Vov started to gain more widespread recognition in 2004 when he formed his first orchestra and started to headline shows in the NSW club circuit.
His light classical shows started to sell out venues and Vov soon found himself with an orchestra that was growing, and full performance diary.
In 2007 he started his first studio album "The Affair" and this was coupled with a series of overseas tours.
January 2014 saw Vov take the world record for "Fastest Violinist" while performing “The Flight Of The Bumblebee” in 38.1 seconds.
2015 saw Vov start a partnership with Ambition Entertainment which saw his albums gain international distribution.
Vov Dylan's shows currently tour across Australia under various titles including:
- "Beyond The Danube",
- "The Hollywood Palace"
- "Sentimental Journey"
- "Virtuoso Of Violin".
- "Ambition"
Recordings
Vov Dylan has released 9 albums with global distribution via Ambition Entertainment.
Recordings With Glenn Amer
Vov Dylan and Pianist Glenn Amer have recorded three albums together to date:
- The Violinist: Romantic Classics
- Timeless
- Cocktail Classics
This association has also created a touring show "Sentimental Journey".
Recordings with Enzo Toppano
Vov Dylan worked with legendary Australian Accordionist Enzo Toppano in the last stages of his career, and they released one duo album Cafe Classics together. Enzo recorded on two further orchestral albums of Vov's including:
- So In Love
- It had To be (released in 2017)
Bartok's 44 duo for Two Violins
Vov Dylan did the first Australian recordings of this major body of work with Violinist Robert Sek.
In addition to this Vov released a special edition of these recordings following the "Concert performance order" as prescribed by the original edition as opposed to the "Pedagogical Order" normally followed. This is the first recording globally of these works released in this fashion.
World Lullabies
A Duo album recorded with Guitarist Brian Dean. The album takes lullabies and popular melodies from around the globe to help sooth babies to slumber.
This album was released in October 2016 in a joint promotion with the Australian branch of Starlight Foundation.
Discography
- The Affair - 2009
- Off The Cuff - 2011
- World Lullabies - 2011 - Double Disk
- Christmas Lullabies - 2012
- Q Vov Dylan Quintet Live - 2013
- Incidental - 2014
- Timeless - 2015
- The Violinist: Romantic Classics - 2016 (re-titled Incidental)
- World Lullabies - 2016 (remastered)
- So In Love - 2016
- Cocktail Classics - 2016
- Cafe Classics - 2016 (remastered and re-titled Off The Cuff)
- Bartok 44 Duo's for two Violins - 2016
- World Lullabies, special Starlight Foundation release - 2016
World's Fastest Violinist
On January 24, 2014, Vov Dylan took the record for being the World's Fastest Violinist.
Quoting The Australian Book Of Records website:
World's Fastest Rendition of the 'Flight of the Bumblebee' on an Acoustic Violin - Vov Dylan
Date of Record: 24/01/2014
Australia's fastest violinist Vov Dylan (born Wodzislaw Dylan Elsley) smashed the world record for playing 'The Flight of the Bumblebee' in the fastest time.
Vov played this renowned technically challenging piece on his Scott Cao violin, in a world best time of 38.10 seconds, beating the previous best of 44.87 seconds held by Yara Amirbahonar, from Iran.
Vov Dylan and his string quintet were performing a wonderfully entertaining classical show at Lizotte's Restaurant, Dee Why, NSW and Vov decided as he is Australia's fastest violinist, he would attempt to break the world record. Vov broke the world record twice on the night, his first attempt recording 39.55 seconds, thereafter with the audience of witnesses encouraging him to have another go, he achieved a phenomenal 38.10 seconds.