Pianist Elizabeth Churchya has established herself as a charismatic and sensitive performer. She has concertized extensively throughout the United States and England, and is the prize winner for many competitions. 

Most recently, Elizabeth appeared as a “Rising Star” soloist with the University of South Carolina Orchestra in performance of the Ravel Piano Concerto in G major and was a finalist in the 2022 Charleston International Piano Competition and 2023 American Prize Professional Division (Concerto). Previously, Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree in piano performance from Christopher Newport University, where she won the scholarship competition three consecutive years. In 2011, she made her orchestra debut performing Saint­-Saëns Concerto No. 2 in G Minor after winning the CNU Concerto Competition. She has had the privilege of performing in masterclasses for renowned pianists including Nelita True, Edmund Battersby, Jon Klibonoff, Dmitri Rachmanov, and many others. 

A dedicated teacher, she maintains a private studio in Champaign-Urbana, IL and often serves as adjudicator for many competitions. For five years, she taught Film Music at University of South Carolina, a course she designed herself and quickly became the university’s most popular music elective. Elizabeth is the current Executive Director of Sinfonia da Camera and Associate Administrator of the renowned Southeastern Piano Festival, a premier piano festival and competition for serious pre-college pianists. She is a member of the Asheville Area Piano Forum and Music Teachers Association.

Elizabeth was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in Piano Performance with double minor in Music History and Music Theory. Her dissertation research analyzes manifestations of feminism and queer identity in selected solo piano works of Ann Southam. Her principal instructors include Joseph Rackers, Phillip Bush, Jeffrey Brown, and Lelia Sadlier.