Elizabeth Schauer

Elizabeth Schauer (she/her) serves as Director of Choral Activities at University of Arizona, where she conducts Symphonic Choir, and teaches graduate conducting and choral literature with a student-centered focus to an international population of learners. Dr. Schauer is internationally recognized for her innovative and inclusive curricular approach, and is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in teaching, performance and scholarship. With a focus on diversifying the choral literature curriculum to include historically excluded composers and populations alongside those traditionally studied, Dr. Schauer also founded the University of Arizona Choral Studies Distinguished Speakers Series and the UA Summer Choral Literature Intensive to bring this information to the greater choral community. She is a published author and editor, and is in demand nationally as a presenter, conductor and master class clinician.

Under her direction, Symphonic Choir has been selected by audition and invited to perform on the professional conferences of National Collegiate Choral Organization, GALA Choruses, American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), College Music Society (CMS), American Guild of Organists and Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA). In addition, the choir has been featured on the ACDA National YouTube Channel and the Community Concerts Series of KUAT-FM Classical Radio. Symphonic Choir is celebrated for its innovative programs, vibrant tone, stylistic flexibility, expressive commitment, and philanthropic engagement. Notable musical collaborations include performances with the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Mariachi Arizona, Reveille Men’s Chorus, Tucson Women's Chorus, Tucson Girls Chorus and Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. Philanthropic projects have involved Tucson’s Housing First Program, Tucson Refugee Ministry,  Doctors Without Borders, Pima Animal Care Center and The Hunger Site. 

Dr. Schauer has presented sessions at the national, regional and state conferences of ACDA, GALA Choruses, Presbyterian Association of Musicians, CMS and AMEA. Her students are published authors, are regularly selected for participation in regional and national conducting master classes and research poster sessions, and are frequent interest session presenters for state conferences of AzACDA and AMEA. Former students are active as music educators at public and private schools, in faith communities, and at colleges and universities throughout the world, and have been accepted into respected graduate schools and programs for continued study.