Soprano Elissa Edwards is a dedicated proponent of vocal chamber music, oratorio, and opera of the 17th and 18th centuries. Performance highlights include featured appearances with Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, Gotham Early Music Series, Bach in Baltimore, Washington Bach Consort, Cathedra, Houston Bach Society and Beverly Early Music Festival. Elissa serves on the faculty at the Washington National Cathedral and The Peabody Institute of the John’s Hopkins. As the Artistic Director of the Élan Ensemble, currently in residence at the Hammond-Harwood House Museum. Recent awards include recognition from the Society of American Music, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Winterthur Museum & Library and the Maryland State Artists Awards Council. Ms. Edwards began her training with the Houston Grand Opera and at the Royal College of Music, London, and received performance degrees from Boston University and University of York, UK. Her soon-to-be released debut solo album, Jane Austen’s Songbook, is scheduled to be followed by Barbara Strozzi's songs and arias from Opus. 8 with Richard Kolb, lute & theorbo. For more about Elissa, please visit www.elissaedwards.com