Pianist, pianist coach, and pedagogue Liz Upchurch is currently in her 24th season as the Music Director of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals. There she has now trained a generation of Canadian artists.

She is a recent recipient of Canada’s prestigious Ruby Award for her outstanding contribution to the world of opera.

She performed her first piano recital at the age of eight, one year after having accepted a coveted place at the Centre for Young Musicians, a music school for gifted children in London, England. There she trained as a violinist, pianist and singer. It was here that her passion for playing chamber music truly began. Her love of the human voice and its relationship to text was soon to follow. She came to Canada to study art song at the Banff Centre, where she met her mentor, the late Martin Isepp. Through his guidance he helped to unlock the mystery of opera.

Since then, she has worked on over 150 operas and new works. As a pianist has curated, performed, and collaborated in hundreds of recitals and many world premieres.

Last year her recordings of Clara Schumann lieder with Canadian soprano Adrianne Piezconka were released in collaboration with the NAC.

A passionate musician and educator Liz believes that the magic of music is even better when it’s shared with others and that it is never too late to start collaborating at the piano.