Elizabeth Reid, a Canadian-American violist and composer, is known for her heartfelt and captivating performances, which "delight with old-world and otherworldly charm" (That Canadian Magazine). Her music seamlessly blends Renaissance, Baroque, classical, and contemporary sensibilities, characterized by expressive phrasing and a distinctive, resonant tone. Critics have praised her "deep and expressive sound" and "natural musicality" (Times Argus).
As the core violist of Vermont's innovative new music group TURNmusic, Elizabeth passionately champions contemporary music from her native Canada and her adopted home of Vermont. She has premiered numerous solo and chamber music by composers such as Gwyneth Walker, Erik Nielsen, Michael Close, Lydia Lowery Busler, Jacob Morton-Black, Jorge Martin, Matthew LaRocca, Tawnie Olson, and Derek Healey.
Elizabeth performs with ARIOSO, the Northern Third Piano Quartet, and in a viola-piano duo with pianist Alison Cerutti. In Northern New England, she has been featured as a soloist with the vocal group Counterpoint and in various concert series, including Cathedral Arts Burlington, Paine Mountain Arts, Chamber Works at Dartmouth College, Norwich University Concerts, and the Barre Opera House. She has also performed live on Vermont Public Radio.
Elizabeth's insatiable curiosity drives her to explore diverse musical realms, from studying spectral music in Finland to composing electronic pieces that pair with her viola. She performs in real-time with colleagues on Jamulus across North America and Europe. Her deep connection to her instrument and ability to convey profound emotion make each performance a unique and memorable experience. She embraces the difficult and constantly pushes the boundaries of her art. Her upcoming set for viola and electronics at the Phoenix will juxtapose her compositions with the music of her 21st-century contemporaries.
Elizabeth has delivered standout performances, including a solo viola show at ArtsRiot in Burlington, Vermont, featuring electronic works by American, Canadian, and Finnish composers. In November 2014, her solo concert of contemporary American and Canadian works at Gallery 345 in Toronto was met with great success. She has also appeared as a soloist with the Burlington Civic Symphony, performing Martinu's Rhapsody-Concerto for viola and orchestra, and with Counterpoint Chorus, performing Vaughan-Williams' *Flos Campi*.
In addition to her solo work, Elizabeth is the principal violist of the Middlebury Opera Orchestra and performs regularly with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, including occasionally as acting principal and assistant principal violist, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, and Music-COMP. She has held principal viola positions in Canada with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and the Banff Opera Orchestra.
Elizabeth began her musical journey at seven in the Hamilton Strings Program with Kosha Braun and switched to viola at ten after falling in love with its sound. She is a proud alumna of the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in viola performance from Western University in London, Ontario, and an Artist Diploma in Viola in performance from the Glenn Gould Professional School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Her teachers included Betty-Jean Hagen, Lorand Fenyves, Ralph Aldrich, and Rennie Regehr. She also attended masterclasses at Banff, Orford, and Bowdoin.
Recent Review for *Conjuring: Viola Music of David Jaeger* (2023):
"The remainder of the listen belongs to Reid, and it showcases the intricate string manipulation of the diverse 'Six Miniatures For Unaccompanied Viola,' while 'Favour' exits with a quivering, sometimes haunting display of string acrobatics that are as stunning as they are captivating." – Take Effect Review, September 2023
JUNE 2024