Clarinetist | Music Educator

Elise is currently a doctoral candidate at Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music, where she will soon earn a Doctor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance and Literature with a minor in Music Education. Elise holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the University of Maryland (after transferring from Louisiana State University).  Her primary teachers have included such renowned performers and pedagogues as James Campbell, Robert DiLutis, and Kenneth Grant. 

 

Elise has established herself as an adept clarinetist, having performed extensively throughout the United States, Austria, and Mexico with such ensembles as the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Festival Orchestra, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, and Eastman Wind Ensemble. While at the Eastman School of Music, Elise was recognized for her “outstanding performing ability” with a Performer’s Certificate.  During her one year at Louisiana State University, Elise won both the Lagniappe Jury Prize and Concerto Competition, providing her with the opportunity to perform Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor with the LSU Symphony Orchestra. Elise was fortunate to participate in the University of Maryland’s 2014 Appalachian Spring project, a memorized and choreographed performance of Aaron Copland’s celebrated work.  In a Washington Post review of the performance, music critic Simon Chin commented that there were “many moments of unaffected lyricism, not least of which were Elise Bond’s mellifluous clarinet solos.”        

 

Elise is not only an accomplished performer, but a passionate, innovative teacher who has worked with students ranging in age from six months to ninety-two years.  Elise’s unique pedagogical approach combines traditional Western classical music performance skills with a strong foundation in music education and consideration for her students’ individual needs and desires.  Her vast array of teaching experiences include leading group music classes for infants and their parents at the Eastman Community Music School, providing private clarinet and recorder lessons to children and teenagers at the Stafford Music Academy in Bloomington, Indiana, coaching undergraduate chamber ensembles at Indiana University, and mentoring senior adult clarinetists and saxophonists through the innovative New Horizons Band program in Rochester, New York.  Additionally, her doctoral research focuses on student motivation, resilience, and overall wellness, providing her with insight into the unique challenges faced by music students that are too often overlooked, along with the skills to help them thrive.