Originally from a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Koch has been the Principal Flutist of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since 1987. Her teachers include David Cramer (recently retired Assistant Principal Flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra), Jeffery Khaner (Principal Flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra), and Adeline Tomasone (recently retired from Opera Philadelphia). Elizabeth studied at the New School of Music in Philadelphia and at the Cleveland Institute. During summers, she studied at the Blossom Festival and at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany with Leonard Bernstein.
Since arriving in Edmonton, she has been a soloist with the Edmonton Symphony, The Alberta Baroque Ensemble, the Arden Ensemble, Edmonton Chamber Orchestra, and the Alberta College Percussion Ensemble. As a chamber musician, she was a founding member of the woodwind trio Take 3 which was heard frequently on CBC until the mid-1990s and is presently a member of the Top Notes Flute Quartet which made their Flute Club of Calgary debut recently with four wonderful Calgarian flutists. She has also enjoyed playing with many of the chamber groups in Edmonton.
Elizabeth teaches at the King’s University and Concordia University in Edmonton, as well as maintaining a private studio. She has recently formed a flute group of eager adult amateurs.
In her spare time, Elizabeth volunteers with her community league, enjoys taking care of her cats (who are all strays), and loves traveling anywhere.