Elisabeth Parry
BA, ARCM

Elisabeth Parry is Head of Performance and Community Engagement and teaches flute on the College’s HE programmes.

Elisabeth studied Music at the University of York and learnt the flute with Atarah Ben-Tovim, John Barrow and Peter Lloyd. On graduating from York in 1976, she developed a successful freelance career, working with orchestras such as the Northern Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists. 

In 1978 she joined the English Northern Philharmonia (the orchestra of Opera North), with whom she played principal piccolo until 1992.  She was also a founder member of Lumina, a chamber music group made up of established performers who had connections with York University, and with whom she gave a number of premieres of newly commissioned works. 

In 1989, Elisabeth joined the full time staff of Leeds College of Music as lecturer in flute and related studies. Her role at Leeds College of Music has developed substantially over the years and in 2002, she was promoted to Head of Community Education.

Elisabeth's current position combines responsibility for all cross-college performance activity with the management of the College’s diverse portfolio of community classes, outreach and widening participation work. She has also been responsible for the establishment and development of the innovative Saturday Music School and is a founder director of Yorkshire Young Musicians.

Outside interests include regular tutoring for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.