Extended Biography

Elizabeth Beaton is a Presser Scholar and Music Department scholarship graduate of the University of New Hampshire (BM 1987), where she completed coursework in Music, Theater, Dance, and Education. She graduated from the University of North Florida in 2019 with a Masters of Music Performance in Choral Conducting. She is/has been a member of the NHMEA, NafME, MENC, Phi Kappa Phi, NATS, FMEA, GMA, ASCAP, and ACDA. Mrs. Beaton has collaborated with composer Jim Papoulis and Peter Eldridge of the New York Voices on performing their pieces and has studied the work of award-winning internationally renowned composer and conductor Z. Randall Stroope. She studied private voice with Arlene Slater Stone, who is known for her performance in The Rake’s Progress, composed and conducted by Igor Stravinsky.

Elizabeth Beaton was Director of Music for St. Kathryn Church in Hudson, NH, for over 17 of her 28+ years in Catholic music ministry. She taught CCD for St. Kathryn Parish of Hudson, and St. Jude Parish of Londonderry, NH. Elizabeth previously served as Choral Director for a vibrant award-winning music program at Alvirne High School (AHS) in Hudson, NH, whose ensembles were featured at Disney World and Disney Springs in Florida, New York City, and Montreal. The AHS “B Naturals” represented New Hampshire at the Centennial of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC under her baton at Governor John Lynch and President Obama's invitations. Ms. Beaton’s groups have twice been invited to perform at the Vatican. 

Elizabeth has taught K-8th grade music for 18+ years, high school music for 9 years, and has served as a clinician in residence at St Augustine High School in St. Augustine, FL for 7 years. She was engaged as an adjudicator and/or clinician for NHMEA All-State, Jazz All-State, middle school festivals, for the Florida Vocal Association, and other contests, and has worked with the University of North FL Chorale. Mrs. Beaton has endeavored to create and direct a Summer Music and Theater Program in NH that was active for 18 years and has choreographed and directed musicals and musical numbers for grades K-12 in various southern NH school districts, and most recently in St. Augustine, FL.

Elizabeth Beaton has performed throughout New England, the US and abroad as a freelance soloist and has appeared in television commercials, regional and professional theater productions. She was a regular jazz vocalist with the Ted Herbert Orchestra, the Seacoast Big Band, the Freese Brothers (raising over $50,000 for music scholarships) and the Lakes Region Big Bands in New England. She has guested with the Clayton Poole Orchestra, the UNF Orchestra, and most recently with the TBA Big Band in Jacksonville, FL. Liz has shared the stage with jazz greats Herb Pomeroy, Tommy Gallant, Clark Terry, and Noel Harrison. She performed for Grammy Award-winning Smokie Norful, Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams, for sitting Presidents Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush. She has performed at major sporting events for the Boston Red Sox and NE Patriots and at numerous political functions, earning the “Key to the City” for her solo work in Manchester, NH. She has taught private and group voice lessons at the University of NH, at the St. Johns Center for the Arts at St Augustine High School, Nease, and Tocoi High Schools in FL, and other studios in those states. Today, some of her former students are performing on Broadway and in various venues across the country.

In her personal time, Elizabeth Beaton is a contemporary Christian artist/songwriter whose music earned airtime on Christian radio stations in the South, and a Top 10 rating for a composition at a national song-writing competition in 2003. Her first album was released in 1996, and her music has been featured on another Christian compilation CD. Other ventures include commercial jingle writing, compositions of Catholic mass settings and sacred music. Elizabeth’s first children’s book The Perfect Little Angel was published by Westbow Press in 2022. This book and her presentation entitled God’s Creation is not Arbitrary are currently featured at churches and other venues across the country. 

Elizabeth lives in Florida with her husband Scott, mother Cecylia, and is herself the proud mother of four children.