Bio

Elizabeth Knudson is a nationally award-winning Vancouver-based composer, and an Associate of the Canadian Music Centre. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music from Simon Fraser University (2004), where she studied composition with David MacIntyre, Owen Underhill, Janet Danielson, and Barry Truax, and a Masters degree in Composition (2006) from the University of British Columbia, where she studied with Keith Hamel.

Ms. Knudson is currently composer-in-residence of Allegra Chamber Orchestra, an all-female Canadian ensemble, directed by Janna Sailor. She has also had works performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, West Coast Symphony, Phoenix Chamber Choir, musica intima, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, Turning Point Ensemble, soloists Ariel Barnes, and Nadine Deleury (cello), Oliver de Clercq, and Stacey Eliason (horn), the RTSH Radio Television Orchestra (Albania), Duo Ahlert & Schwab (Germany), and Music Progressive Quartet (Macedonia), among others. Other highlights include the Sonic Boom Festival (Vancouver, BC), Open Ears Festival (Kitchener, ON), Baie des Chaleurs International Chamber Music Festival (Dalhousie, NB), the New Music Festival at California State University (USA), the International Women’s Brass Festival (Mito City, Japan), and hosting the first international edition of “Making Waves” new music programme (Australia).

Elizabeth has been the recipient of a number of awards, including the Association of Canadian Women Composers’ national choral composing competition (2005), and the Golden Key International Honor Society’s composition award for her orchestral work, “The Gnarled Root”. In 2011, she was selected for residency in the Canadian League of Composers/Canadian Music Centre’s inaugural Composer Mentorship Programme. Her piece, “Ere Sleep Comes Down”, was selected as first prize winner in a national competition (receiving the Barbara Pentland Award in 2019), and premiered by the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. She is also the recipient of the Canadian Music Centre’s national Music Creation Prize (2019), with a commissioned work for double guitar orchestra, premiered at the 21st Century Guitar Conference in Ottawa, ON. Most recently, she had a newly commissioned work for erhu quartet (2023), as well as a commissioned piece for the Sound of Dragon Ensemble (2024), premiered in Vancouver.

Elizabeth enjoys composing for orchestra, chamber ensembles, choir and voice, and collaborating with dance, film, and theatre. Outside of composing, she is a freelance cellist and music instructor, and performs with several local ensembles, including the Syrinx String Quartet. For the past several years, she has also been studying the sitar, and learning about Indian classical music.