Elizabeth
Melcher received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance
and Literature at the Eastman School of Music in 1994, where she
studied organ with Russell Saunders, David Craighead, and David
Higgs. As a student of John Weaver, she received the Master of
Music degree from
The
Juilliard School and the Bachelor of Music degree from
The Curtis
Institute of Music as a full scholarship student. Dr. Melcher
currently serves as Organist and Choirmaster at
Grace and Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr. Melcher is
an active recitalist throughout the United States. Her recitals
include most notably: St. James Episcopal Church, Los Angeles; St.
Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco; National City Christian Church,
Washington, D.C.; Ursinus College; Cathedral of the Incarnation,
Garden City, NY; Ocean Grove Auditorium; U.S. Naval Academy;
Wesleyan University’s Young Organ Virtuosi Recital Series; St.
Thomas Church and Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York
City; Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; University of
Pittsburgh’s Heinz Chapel; and Shenandoah University. Elizabeth was
a featured recitalist at the American Guild of Organists Region III
Conventions in Alexandria, VA in 2003 and in Washington, D.C. in
1997.
Dr. Melcher has
been a prizewinner in numerous organ competitions. In July 1996,
she was selected as one of three finalists in the American Guild of
Organists National Young Artists Competition held during the AGO
National Convention in New York City. She was awarded second prize
in the 1995 and 1998 Arthur Poister National Scholarship Competition
in Organ Playing in Syracuse, New York. She also won second prize
in the 1993 Naples (Florida) International Organ Festival
Competition. In 1991, she won first prize in the Region III and the
Philadelphia Chapter levels of the AGO National Young Artists
Competition in Organ Performance.
Dr. Melcher
served as a member of the executive committee of both the Baltimore
and Philadelphia Chapters of the American Guild of Organists. She
was also an assistant to Dr. Keith Chapman at the John Wanamaker
Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia. Elizabeth served as an
adjudicator for the Washington, D.C. AGO Chapter’s Young Organists
Competition in March 2001 and for the National Organ Competition at
West Chester University in May 2001.
Dr. Melcher
recorded a CD, “Pageant”, at Vienna (VA) Presbyterian Church in
2001. The CD was recorded live at a recital for the Northern
Virginia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The CD is
available for purchase by e-mailing Dr. Melcher at
emelcher@ghtc.org.
Dr. Melcher was
featured on "Pipedreams", a national radio program of organ music.
Elizabeth's performance of "Concert Etude for Pedals Alone" by Dr.
John Weaver, which is dedicated to her, was included in Program No.
0717, "The Weaver's Tale". This program was a tribute to Dr. John
Weaver, who was one of Elizabeth's former organ professors. The
program is available on the internet at
www.pipedreams.org.
Dr. Melcher’s
biographical profile is listed in “Who’s Who of American Women” and
“Who’s Who in America”.