Elizabeth Burns

Elizabeth Burns

In my youth, I studied piano, organ, clarinet and singing. My clarinet studies were funded by a Hampshire County Council Full Award, and I achieved Grade VIII in all four of my studies, two with distinction. I won composition competitions in the Southampton Competitive Music Festival in both the ‘under 18’ and ‘over 18’ categories. I played in a number of orchestras and bands, including the Southampton Youth Orchestra and the Southampton Schools Wind Band, in both of which I played both clarinet and, when required, piano.

I began studying for a combined BA in Music and Theology at King’s College, London, which included part-time study of singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I switched to the single honours in Theology programme, and followed this with a PhD in Philosophy of Religion at Queens’ College, Cambridge. I now teach Philosophy of Religion at Heythrop College, University of London.

I play the clarinet in a Cambridge Wind Octet and have been an active church musician for many years – I first became a church organist at the age of 16. I have recently begun to compose worship songs, and piano pieces for use in a church setting, and beyond. Any feedback on the comments page of my site would be gratefully received.