Elizabeth Start

ARTIST INFORMATION

Meet the Musician

Where were you born? Where do you call home now?

Born: Kalamazoo

Call home: Kalamazoo/Crystal Lake, IL

Where did you study? Who did you study under?

Oberlin Conservatory (Andor Toth, Jr.), Northern Illinois University (Marc Johnson and the Vermeer Quartet), University of Chicago (composition with Shulamit Ran, Ralph Shapey, John Eaton, Howard Sandroff)

When did you first discover your instrument? How old were you?

I’d started on violin in the public schools because we had one around the house. I couldn’t stand the sound of the E string under my ear, I was very uncomfortable holding it because I had no shoulder rest, and it was an extra-heavy full-size instrument. I switched to cello, against my school teacher’s wishes. I also had the influence at home that my father played the cello.

Who is a musician/mentor who inspires you? What makes them special?

Recently, I have been inspired by my first composition teacher, Robert Fleisher, who, in retirement, continues to compose, enjoy many performances of his works, and revisit his earlier works for inspiration and material – also of great note is his genuine wish to help others succeed, which is not always prevalent in our business. Another inspiration is fellow composer Patricia Morehead, who, in her 80s, continues to compose, perform, seek out opportunities, and help promote other composers, especially women.

What do you love most about Kalamazoo? What are your hobbies/interests outside of the music world?

The active arts scene and relative ease in getting around a town that is not huge. I fly-fish and occasionally work in fused glass. I am also avid about my garden and fruit trees, but since I eat that stuff it’s hard to see it as a hobby.

BIOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Start has received numerous grants and commissions and over 500 performances of over 140 works. She is a member of the Chicago Composers’ Consortium, Musicians Club of Women, International Alliance of Women in Music, Kalamazoo Symphony (who commissioned a work from her for their 100th anniversary), and the Elgin IL Symphony; Executive Director of the Connecting Chords Music Festival (MI), and Secretary/Treasurer of the Kalamazoo Federation of Musicians.

Her degrees include two bachelor’s degrees from Oberlin in mathematics and cello, two master’s degrees in cello and theory/composition from Northern Illinois University, and a PhD in composition from the University of Chicago.