After years of work in opera and concert internationally, I felt stifled by the obligation to only sing like a classical singer. To only express the human condition through operatic sounds. Humans make all KINDS of sounds in joy, grief, and everything in between, and different styles of music reflect different types of people, people from different social groups, different cultural heritages, all trying to communicate something authentic–truthfully and fully–to anyone within hearing distance. And I wanted the chance to bring more of these people to life. So I began new vocal and acting training and moved to NYC and began a new journey. Along the way, I found that having these new vocal options available when performing musical theatre or interpreting the music of Charles Ives and Anthony Braxton is a real joy. In addition to performing on stage as an actor and singer, and a bit on camera now as well, I maintain a dynamic voice studio where I train everyone from opera singers and singers on Broadway and National Tours to people just working out how to use their voices for singing. If you are interested in developing your voice, regardless of your current skill level or aspirations, you are welcome in my studio. Most recently, at the recommendation and urging of a colleague who knows me well both as a performer and teacher, I created and facilitate a retreat workshop at a log cabin lodge in the Catskills that is now called “UnMuted: Reclaiming Your Authentic Expression Through Music and Mindset.” I encourage you to click on the tab above to learn more about that. 

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Elizabeth Saunders’ voice and artistic command are described by reviewers as “formidable”, “spectacular,” “creamy,” “sensuous,” “powerful,” “sweet,” and “perfect.” An uncommonly versatile singer-actress with eclectic artistic passions, Elizabeth is recognized by international Ives scholars as one of the most compelling artists to be performing the songs of Charles Ives today, and is now being promoted throughout the country with the concert program “Songs in the Key of Z: the songs of Charles Ives” with celebrated Ives scholar, pianist, and composer Neely Bruce. Her performances of the songs of Charles Ives also brought her to the attention of jazz legend, MacArthur Genius Grant awardee, and 2014 NEA Jazz Master Awardee Anthony Braxton, with whom she now sings as a core member of the company of 12 singers that performs and records his Trillium Cycle of “restructuralist” operas, and his Syntactical Ghost Trance Music.

In addition to performing principal roles in traditional opera in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, musical theatre roles performed include the Old Lady in Bernstein’s CANDIDE, Cousin Hebe in H.M.S. PINAFORE, Meg in BRIGADOON and as a soloist in Pops concerts with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Unified Jazz Ensemble. International operatic appearances include, but are not limited to, the title role in CARMEN in Osaka, Japan, Florence Pike in ALBERT HERRING in Tokyo, Anna in Kurt Weill’s DIE BÜRGSCHAFT in Germany, and La Voce in Respighi’s LUCREZIA in Italy.  Elizabeth has performed as mezzo soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra, at Lincoln Center with Broadway composer and conductor Phil Hall, and at Le Poisson Rouge with Joseph Kubera, one of the world’s leading interpreters of contemporary music at the piano.

Now enjoying non-musical performance in the theater and on camera as well,  Elizabeth premiered the role of Mrs. Vaughn in Nathan Wright’s “Peninsula” for the Manhattan Repertory Theater’s New Works Plays Series, premiered the role of Joan in Derek Nicoletto’s “Brunch in Babel” for the New York Theater Festival, and recent screen work includes the role of Kate opposite Jeff Daniels in  the 9/11 political drama miniseries “The Looming Tower” on Hulu, Bravo’s comedy series Odd Mom Out , the role of Ellen in the award winning film One Angry Black Man from Oscar and Emmy nominee Hans Charles and the comedy Noah Wise. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Arts – Opera Performance form the University of Southern California, and her Artist Diploma in Opera Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Additional training included studying Mozart and Britten roles at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies in Aldeburgh, England with Anthony Rolfe Johnson, and several seasons with Ann Baltz’s performing troupe as she was developing her OperaWorks! training program.