Pianist Dr. Elizabeth Etnoyer serves as contributing faculty in piano, accompanying, chamber coaching and music theater pit pianist at Dickinson College. A native of Central Pennsylvania, Etnoyer moved back in 2016 from her second home in West Virginia and has since become an active member and presenter of the local Music Teachers National Association, Capital Area Chapter, The Wednesday Club, and serves as the pianist at Grace United Methodist Church in Hummelstown. She has an active independent studio in Hummelstown and Carlisle, teaching all ages from preschoolers to adults.
She has also served as accompanist with the concert and jazz choirs at Gettysburg University and the concert choir at Shippensburg University. She enjoys coaching and accompanying dedicated high school musicians and has accompanied both the West Shore Symphony and Hershey Symphony’s high school concerto competitions, as well as adjudicated the Wilkes-Barre PMTA piano festivals. In 2018 she served as accompanist for vocal finalists from Dickinson College in the Eastern Divisional NATS competition.
A graduate of West Virginia University, Etnoyer holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in piano as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Music from Alderson-Broaddus College. She brings with her fifteen years of experience as a competitive solo pianist, having soloed with orchestra twice, two-time winner of the West Virginia MTNA Young Artist’s State Competition, and an active faculty, freelance accompanist and piano instructor.
Her background in music began in the church and home. Consequently, she enjoys incorporating church music ministry activities into her life and teaching, enabling music students and listeners from all ages and backgrounds to grow in their appreciation of sacred, secular and other genres of music. Her 2015 published dissertation, “The Keyboard Works of Alex Shapiro,” explores all of the keyboard literature of this modern-day, diverse and eclectic composer. In fact, Shapiro commissioned a recording of all her piano works to be released by Innova Recordings in August 2020. In the liner notes she credits Etnoyer as a source of inspiration for the concept of this collection. Etnoyer’s future plans include a Fall 2020 presentation on contemporary keyboard works inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven to be presented for the Capital Area PMTA Chapter. She enjoys being a member of MTNA and plans to continue refining her skills as an educator, collaborative and solo musician through attending and participating in concerts, festivals and conferences.