Elizabeth Lecoanet
Elizabeth is a woman of many talents – Choir Conductor, Music Theatre Director, Professional Crossover Singer (Contemporary and Opera), Vocal Coach and Singing Teacher, as well as a Sound and Massage Therapist, Presenter and Researcher.
After performing in musical theatre productions through school and in the cabaret/theatre restaurant scene, and studying acting in Australia, Elizabeth studied voice with the English National Opera Baylis Program and was mentored by Michael Attenborough CBE, who taught her acting and directing. She has performed extensively through Europe, USA and Australia across genres from Baroque, Classical, opera, cabaret and contemporary to Broadway showtunes. She has sung at the Royal Festival Hall (London), Palais Royale, St Eustache, Invalides in Paris, with the English National Opera (London), the Bel Canto Opera Co (New York), and in one woman cabaret shows off-Broadway in New York. Elizabeth has directed musical theatre productions, including Grease and Les Miserables in Paris.
Elizabeth has collaborated with her husband, film maker Albert Lecoanet, on a number of documentaries which often have music at their core, on topics as diverse as use of music and sound therapy in medical settings, to the Parisian love of dogs.
Elizabeth holds Vocal Teaching Certification from the Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at The Shenandoah Conservatory USA. Elizabeth has also studied yoga at the first Yogic University in the world, the Bihar School of Yoga in India.
Since returning to Australia in 2011, Elizabeth has conducted and co-ordinated a number of community choirs, including the first NSW choir for Creativity Australia (With One Voice Sydney) which boasted over 180 members. Elizabeth received a “Hidden Hero Of Sydney” award in 2014, from the City of Sydney, for her work with this choir, bridging Sydney communities and social capital. It was also the subject of the international award winning documentary “Sing Your Little Heart Out”, which was aired on SBS On Demand in Australia, made by Albert Lecoanet. To purchase a copy of the film or watch the trailer, please click here.
Elizabeth has a deep interest in the use of singing and music as part of wellbeing. She worked with Beth Israel Hospital (NYC), using sound as pain management, and with a music therapist in a nursing home in New York City. She has presented on the health benefits of singing at a number of medical conferences.
Elizabeth has been vocal coach for the children’s pop group Hi5, and runs a busy private vocal studio. Her students have appeared in professional productions of Saturday Night Fever, Hair, Mamma Mia, Aladdin, Book Of Mormon, Singing in the Rain, We Will Rock You, Into The Woods, Pippin, Merrily We Roll Along, Come From Away and Cinderella (to name a few). In the last 3 years, she has had students selected for the NSW Encore program, based on their HSC music performances.
Combining these experiences, skills and talents, Elizabeth has brought her work into the workplace, to help businesses (large and small) to nurture and connect their staff whilst developing the creativity – individually and collectively – needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
