Elizabeth Blood

As a pianist, I greatly enjoy performing, teaching and all manner of sharing music with others. A native of Manchester, NH, I began studying the piano at the age of eight. After a childhood and youth full of rich and varied musical experiences, I received my undergraduate degree from Northwestern University. While at NU, I began accompanying singers in both the opera and musical theater programs and decided to pursue further study in collaborative piano. After spending two very rewarding summers studying at the Brevard Music Festival (NC) in the Vocal Accompanying Program, I pursued graduate study in collaborative piano at Florida State University. While at FSU, I received two M.M. Degrees: Accompanying/Chamber Music and Opera Coaching.

In addition to teaching at St. Anselm College, I currently serve as a Resident Artist and Staff Accompanist at the University of New Hampshire. There, I teach group piano classes to Music Education majors, accompany Music majors in degree recitals and other performances throughout the semester, and serve as the pianist for the Opera Workshop. I am also a member of the piano faculty at the Manchester Community Music School where my studio consists of students ages 7-70+!

I have held teaching positions at Keene State College, Plymouth State University and Shorter University. I have served on the music staffs of the Barga Institute (Barga, Italy), the American of Musical Studies (Austria) and Opera in the Ozarks (Arkansas) where I have coached and accompanied singers in opera, art song and musical theater. I keep a active performing schedule and some of my recent concerts include performances at Dartmouth College, the Currier Gallery of Art and the St. Gaudens National Historic Site.

Committed to supporting young singers in NH, I serve as the accompanist for 2G MCS, a Manchester-based youth choir that is a collaboration between the MCMS and the Manchester Choral Society (MCS). I am a frequent accompanist for the NH NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) festivals. I have also served as the accompanist for the NH All-State Music Festival Treble Choir since 2009. 

As a church musician, I have most recently served as Cantor (Director of Music) at Christ the King Lutheran Church (Nashua, NH) from 2008-2016 where I was the organist, directed the adult singing and handbell choirs, planned worship with the pastor, and oversaw all aspects of the music ministry. I have also served churches in FL, GA and IL and serve as a board member of Church Music Forward, an ecumenical organization dedicated to preserving "tradition with imagination" in church music.

I am very thankful to have a rich life in music and am happiest when I can help foster music-making in the greater community. Outside of music, some of my interests include reading, enjoying walks, watching movies and traveling. I live in Manchester, NH, with my husband, Romeo and our cat, Valentina.