Bio
Elizabeth Kovalchuk was born in Riga, Latvia and moved to Canada as an infant just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Inspired by an artistic family, Liz began playing cello at the age of 9 at Runnymede Public School. Studying music led her to undergrad work at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she studied with Chicago Symphony cellist Richard Hirschl. In her junior year, Liz had the great opportunity to study at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. Her Master’s degree was at Ball State University studying with, and being a graduate assistant to, Dr.Peter Opie.
As a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player, Liz has performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. From 2014-2016, Liz was a solo cellist in the International Tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. In January 2017, Liz toured Japan with the Hollywood Festival Orchestra as principal cellist. She has worked with dozens of professional orchestras such as the New York Chamber Players, the Marion Philharmonic, Anderson Symphony, Muncie Symphony, L’Orchestre de La Francophonie, and the Sibelius Academy Orchestra.
As a soloist, Ms.Kovalchuk has produced and performed numerous solo recitals in Toronto, Chicago, New York City, Moscow, Riga, Cremona and Helsinki including the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto in Toronto, in Chicago with the Etobicoke School of the Arts Orchestra. Very recent solo performances have been with the New Westchester Symphony Orchestra performing the Elgar Cello Concerto. As an enthusiastic session musician, Liz has recorded at Avatar Studios, ManMade Music Productions, and Premier Studios for PBS. She has collaborated with YouTube sensation Robyn Adele Anderson, as well as Emmy award-winning (and former Saturday Night Live Music Director) Katreese Barnes.
Liz Kovalchuk is a passionate educator and finds great fulfillment contributing to the development of young musicians. She has been a counsellor at the Cremona International Academy in Italy and taught undergraduate students at Ball State. Locally she has coached chamber music groups and taught lessons at Lord Lansdowne Music Summer School and led cello sectionals at the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
Also an accomplished singer, Liz has sung in the Oratory Choir and in the Redeemer Choir. In the non-classical realm, she leads the Liz K cover band.
Joining CELLA in 2019 (https://www.cella.to), Liz is excited to collaborate with fellow cellist and long-term friend Amber Walton Amar in this dynamic passion project.
Elizabeth Kovalchuk was born in Riga, Latvia and moved to Canada as an infant just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Inspired by an artistic family, Liz began playing cello at the age of 9 at Runnymede Public School. Studying music led her to undergrad work at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she studied with Chicago Symphony cellist Richard Hirschl. In her junior year, Liz had the great opportunity to study at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. Her Master’s degree was at Ball State University studying with, and being a graduate assistant to, Dr.Peter Opie.
As a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player, Liz has performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. From 2014-2016, Liz was a solo cellist in the International Tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. In January 2017, Liz toured Japan with the Hollywood Festival Orchestra as principal cellist. She has worked with dozens of professional orchestras such as the New York Chamber Players, the Marion Philharmonic, Anderson Symphony, Muncie Symphony, L’Orchestre de La Francophonie, and the Sibelius Academy Orchestra.
As a soloist, Ms.Kovalchuk has produced and performed numerous solo recitals in Toronto, Chicago, New York City, Moscow, Riga, Cremona and Helsinki including the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto in Toronto, in Chicago with the Etobicoke School of the Arts Orchestra. Very recent solo performances have been with the New Westchester Symphony Orchestra performing the Elgar Cello Concerto. As an enthusiastic session musician, Liz has recorded at Avatar Studios, ManMade Music Productions, and Premier Studios for PBS. She has collaborated with YouTube sensation Robyn Adele Anderson, as well as Emmy award-winning (and former Saturday Night Live Music Director) Katreese Barnes.
Liz Kovalchuk is a passionate educator and finds great fulfillment contributing to the development of young musicians. She has been a counsellor at the Cremona International Academy in Italy and taught undergraduate students at Ball State. Locally she has coached chamber music groups and taught lessons at Lord Lansdowne Music Summer School and led cello sectionals at the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
Also an accomplished singer, Liz has sung in the Oratory Choir and in the Redeemer Choir. In the non-classical realm, she leads the Liz K cover band.
Joining CELLA in 2019 (https://www.cella.to), Liz is excited to collaborate with fellow cellist and long-term friend Amber Walton Amar in this dynamic passion project.