As an orchestral performer, Upton has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has appeared with the Macau Orchestra in China and Portugal as guest third horn, and in Los Angeles as principal horn of the Young Musician’s Foundation’s Debut Orchestra.
Praised by the Cleveland Plain Dealer for her “haunting sound,” horn player Elizabeth Upton has performed around the world, playing in operas, symphonies, and chamber music concerts throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. After growing up outside of Chicago, Illinois, she received her Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, studying with former principal horn of the St. Louis Symphony, Roland Pandolfi, and her Master of Music from the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of William Purvis. Elizabeth is an alumna of the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where she completed a Professional Studies Certificate and studied with former principal horn of the San Francisco Symphony, David Krehbiel and principal horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Andrew Bain.
As an orchestral performer, Upton has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has appeared with the Macau Orchestra in China and Portugal as guest third horn, and in Los Angeles as principal horn of the Young Musician’s Foundation’s Debut Orchestra. Her summers have been spent playing at such festivals as Spoleto USA, Festival Mozaic, Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Banff Institute, Colorado College Music Festival, and the Norfolk Chamber Festival.
An avid contemporary music supporter, Elizabeth is a founding member of the new music ensembles NOVUS NY and Le Maintenant Duo with whom she has performed at Le Poisson Rouge, Zankel Hall, and Trinity Church in NYC. Additionally, she has always had a passion for community engagement and outreach. While at Oberlin, she traveled to Brazil to participate with Alex Klein in the Festival of Music of Santa Catarina and created a month long brass residency in El Salvador during which she traveled throughout the country and performed in a variety of venues ranging from school concerts to governmental ceremonies.
Elizabeth currently teaches horn at the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts.