Eliza Brown loves sound. Their music is motivated by sound and its potential for meaning, interdisciplinary approaches to narrative and process, and attention to the nuances of interior and interpersonal experience. Eliza’s compositions have been performed by leading interpreters of new music, including Ensemble Dal Niente, Spektral Quartet, ensemble recherche, International Contemporary Ensemble, Network for New Music, Ensemble SurPlus, the Grossman Ensemble, and Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble; heard on stages throughout the USA and abroad; and released on the Navona and New Focus labels, among others.

Eliza’s music, described as “delicate, haunting, and introspective” by Symphony Magazine, is frequently intertextual, opening dialogues with pre-existing pieces of music, historical styles, field recordings, and non-musical artistic works. It is also often interdisciplinary: Eliza has collaborated with practitioners of theater, dance, architecture, poetry, visual art, film, and the sciences, frequently taking on artistic and organizational roles in addition to “composer.” Building intentional, project-specific collaborative processes is an essential part of their practice.

Eliza is a dedicated teacher who enjoys helping students develop as creators and engage complex ideas with rigor and enthusiasm. They are currently the Cassel Grubb University Professor of Music at DePauw University, where they teach composition, music theory, and career development courses.

Eliza holds a B.Mus. in composition from the University of Michigan and a D.M.A. in composition from Northwestern University. 

Media Publications

"The Listening Year at Big Walnut Creek" (60’) for cello, percussion, and fixed media (2024), written for New Morse Code and funded by the DePauw University Fisher Fellowship. Community-embedded ecological music-theater project based on a year of field recording at Big Walnut Creek in Greencastle and created with input from colleagues, students, alumni and local residents. Premiered at DePauw University 5/1/25.

"of our transgressions" (15’), for 13-player mixed ensemble (2022), commissioned by the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition for the Grossman Ensemble. Instrumental work for large ensemble developed through extensive, collaborative workshop process. Premiered at University of Chicago 12/2/22.

"Theorem" (35’), for solo violin and electronics (2022), part of interdisciplinary performance/installation work w/ Clara Lyon, violin; Antonia Contro, visual art; Elizabeth Bradfield, poetry; Andrew Boyce, art direction; Joe Meredith, animation. Workshop performance at Ragdale Foundation 10/15/22.

"The light that blurred the stars" (22’), for soprano and string quartet (2022), commissioned by Spektral Quartet and Scrag Mountain Music. A five-song cycle setting poetry by celebrated American poet Susan Stewart. Revised version premiered at the Arts Club of Chicago by Spektral Quartet and Mary Bonhag, 5/12/22.

"The Body of the State" (40’), for soprano and ensemble (2017); scored music by Eliza Brown; libretto and recorded vocal improvisations by Eliza Brown, Lara Campbell, Jeneth Hughes, Michelle Jones, Brittney Watson, Melinda Loveless, and Anastazia Schmid; commissioned by Ensemble Dal Niente. One-act opera about historical political prisoner Juana of Castile with libretto co-written by incarcerated artists and scholars. Premiered in fully-staged production by Ensemble Dal Niente at Chicago's Edge Theater, 10/20/17.