His contemporaries studying there included Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon.
The Violin Concerto was premiered by soloist Martin Milner in 1962 with the Halle Orchestra conducted by Maurice Handford.
He had a wide circle of musical friends, including Malcolm Arnold, Ida Carroll, Peter Hope, Antony Hopkins, John McCabe, Ian Parrott and his teacher Thomas Pitfield; and wrote a series of shorter works for them as tributes.
[4] Ellis was married to concert pianist Patricia Cunliffe ("Pat"), who gave the first performance of his Piano Sonata in 1956.
The eldest child, Yvonne Ellis, studied art and clothing design, but took after her parents, by having a career in music, including working with Simply Red.