I am thrilled that I get to be your music teacher this year! I grew up in this very area of Austin and attended Anderson Mill Elementary, Grisham Middle and graduated from Westwood High School in 2000. Band was always my favorite subject, and I was a two-year Texas All-State clarinetist in high school. After graduation I went on to study music at The University of Texas at Austin where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Music Theory in 2005.
While studying at UT, I became interested in Scottish music and began learning to play the Highland bagpipes, which eventually led to me joining the Austin based bagpipe band, Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums. During my time with the band, I enjoyed many opportunities to travel, perform and compete against other bagpipe bands across the country, and even in Scotland!
In the summer of 2005 I left Texas and moved overseas to Glasgow, Scotland to study clarinet performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. The was quite possibly the most difficult challenge I ever faced! It was hard work, but in 2007 I graduated with a Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance, and I happily moved back to Austin.
I have been teaching elementary music since I returned to Texas in 2007 and I love my job! It is my passion to expose young people to all the great music out in the world.
I can't wait to experience the amazing talents our England Leopards have to show!
Mission For The Class It is our mission as Elsa England musicians to be active and reflective listeners and performers who are passionate about music in all its facets, and who can use music to communicate in ways that go beyond oral language ability.