Elisabeth Axtell

Elisabeth Axtell delights in sharing the period instrument ethos with audiences across the country. Her East Coast engagements have included Acronym, Arpeggione, Boston Baroque, Blue Hill Bach Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, Connecticut Early Music Festival, Emmanuel Music, Handel & Haydn Society, Opera Lafayette, the Portland Bach Experience, Toronto Bach Festival, and Vespers at New York City’s Holy Trinity Lutheran. On the West Coast, she performs with American Bach Soloists, Carmel Bach Festival, Musica Angelica, Opera Neo, Portland Baroque Orchestra, San Diego Bach Collegium, Seattle Bach Festival, and Voices of Music. Elisabeth’s South and Central US appearances include Austin Philharmonie, Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, Houston Bach Society, La Speranza, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Madison Bach Musicians, Mercury Chamber Orchestra, North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, Seicento Baroque, Staunton Music Festival, and Three Notch’d Road.

Off stage, Elisabeth is an entrepreneur of unconventional ensembles; founding projects include Grand Harmonie, a wind-led period instrument orchestra, and Conica, a natural horn quartet. She has proudly supported community music organizations through service as a board member of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony and as a president of New England Brass Band. Elisabeth teaches natural horn at New England Conservatory and her playing can be heard on recordings from the Coro and Navona labels.

Born in Montana, raised in the Pacific Northwest, and educated in Minnesota, she now splits her time between Boston, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and the road.