A native of San Francisco, Emily Onderdonk received her bachelor's and master's degrees at the Manhattan School of Music and went on to post-graduate studies at Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music. Her teachers include James Buswell, Raphael Bronstein, Arianna Bronne, Daniel Kobialka, and Karen Tuttle. She has since performed as principal violist with orchestras around the country including the Santa Fe Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra.