Elizabeth Gartman is a composer, soprano, and educator currently based in New York City. With compositions described as “refreshingly absurd” (The Washington Post) and “innovative” (Twin Cities Arts Reader), Elizabeth’s work explores vocalism in its connection to the physical body. She considers her music to be an autonomous process in performance, centered on active listening and response.
Elizabeth’s music has been commissioned by the Washington National Opera, Beth Morrison Projects, New Chamber Ballet, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Guerilla Opera, InfraSound Ensemble, Ensemble Chemie, Pax Duo, the Why Collective, NYC Virtuoso Singers, LIGAMENT Duo, and others.
Recent accolades include selection as a composer fellow with the American Opera Initiative (2023), Honorable Mention for the Darmstadt Ferienkurse Kranichsteiner Musikpreis (2023), the William Schuman Prize for Most Outstanding Score with BMI Student Composer Awards (2021), and Runner Up of Beth Morrison Projects Next Generation (2022).
Elizabeth holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (MM composition 2021) and the University of Illinois (BM vocal performance, BM composition 2019). She currently serves as a faculty member at Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School and the Manhattan School of Music Precollege.
Vox: Opening
Composed December 2023 – Violin, Piano
From the composer: “Vox: Opening is the opening movement of an evening length ballet “VOX.” The inspiration comes from the human vocal mechanism, translated to instruments. As a composer whose output regularly includes voice as a primary instrument, composing this work gave me the opportunity to explore vocalism in a new way. I’m choosing to submit this work in order to develop it as a stand alone concert work, performed outside of the ballet setting in the future.“