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Behind the Music of
Elise Rae
Elise Rae is a native to the state of Oregon. It was there that she developed her love and passion for nature and music. At a young age she discovered that music like nature brought peace and serenity to her life.
As the years went by Elise’s passion for music deepened and became a part of her everyday life. At the age of 7 she started piano lesson, by 10 she was playing flute in the elementary school band and singing in the Rogue Valley Children’s Choir. By 5th grade she knew she wanted to be a musician. It was everything to her. She wanted everyone to feel that love and peace that she felt as she played. As the years went on her skills developed and by her senior year she was playing piano, in two audition level choirs and two band classes where she had now picked up the oboe along with her flute. She had the opportunity while in high school to take an AP Music Theory class which only deepened her drive to become a professional musician.
Upon graduation from Springfield High School in 2003 she was accepted into Brigham Young University-Idaho. By now she knew that her calling as a musician was to be an educator. She knew that the only way to truly help people feel that peace that came from music was to help them find the joy of creating music themselves. She had so many options and had to make a decision as to which route to follow. She decided to follow her voice. Her high school choir teacher Stacey Swartout-McKee had shown her what true passion could bring and was the teacher who always believed in her and gave her a chance.
Becoming a singer was not an easy journey for Elise. Arriving at Brigham Young University-Idaho she discovered the fight, determination, passion that it would take to survive this industry. She had many professors that didn’t believe she had what it took. After five applications, passing all her music classes and being in her senior year of college, she finally made it into the music education program.
Upon completion of her undergraduate studies in April of 2008 she was hired as an emergency hire for the remaining school year in the Idaho Falls school district as a music paraprofessional. She taught kindergarten through sixth grade music and was offered a permanent job for the following school year. She decided to decline the job to take a job as a high school choir teacher in the Shelley school district where she would spend the next four years of her music career. While at Shelley High School her choirs one several first place honors in competition.
After eight years of living in Idaho, she left her job to pursue her dreams back in Oregon. She opened her own private studio and quickly filled with students who wanted to learn and had a passion for piano and voice. While in Oregon she had the opportunity to be involved in many musical events in the community. These included;
Singing and Directing the Community Chorus of Florence, Oregon
Founding and Directing Siuslaw Valley Children’s Choir
Guest Soloist at the Wildish Theatre in Springfield, Oregon
Accompanying the Siuslaw school district choirs where they received 5th place in the state.
Sitting on the board for the local theatre organization Last Resort Players in Florence, Oregon
Substitute pianist for various churches in Florence, Oregon
Playing Piano in the Pit for The Sound of Music as well as rehearsal pianist
Ensemble member in Chicago and Our Town
Having the honor of playing Cosette in Les Misérables
While living on the Oregon coast was a dream come true for Elise, there was still something missing in her pursuit in education. She gave up the busy life of freelancing to move her and her family across the country to Morehead, Kentucky to pursue her masters. She is currently attending Morehead State University where she is currently a graduate assistant in the Music, Theatre and Dance Department as their box office manager. She has had the opportunity to be the Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, voice instructor to non-music majors, and vocal coach for The Pajama Game, and Little Shop of Horrors. She is expected to graduate May 2018 with her Master of Music in Vocal Performance. Among her University commitments she has had many opportunities to share her musical talent with many churches in the Lexington and Morehead area.
If you have the opportunity to meet Elise you will find music nearby. Whether she is preparing for a recital, show, church, listening to music or making music with her children music is part of Elise. It fills her soul. One of her favorite musical quotes is “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” (Plato) This is how Elise lives her life. Music is everything to her and if she is given the opportunity she will show that through her passion, dedication and work on and off the stage.