Elem Eley is an American baritone and voice pedagogue. He served as Professor of Voice at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he was promoted to full professor in 1998 and later granted emeritus status.
Early life and education Eley, born in LaGrange, Georgia, was raised in Georgia and Texas in a family of Southern Baptists; to this day, he is active in the Presbyterian Church. He completed formal academic training in vocal performance and related studies across several institutions. He earned a Bachelor of Music (cum laude) in voice performance from Baylor University in 1975 studying voice with Carol Mayo and Daniel Pratt. He then obtained a Master of Music in voice from the School of Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1977, where he studied voice with Jack Coldiron and James McKinney. He pursued doctoral coursework toward a D.Mus. in voice performance and literature at Indiana University, studying voice with Margaret Harshaw and vocal literature with Paul Matthen and Robert Evans.
Career Early teaching appointments Eley began teaching voice in 1973 and has maintained a private voice studio since that time. He served as Instructor of Music at Brewton-Parker College. He later held the position of Associate Instructor at Indiana University, teaching private voice to principal and elective students. While studying at Indiana, he took a one-semester leave (spring 1984) to take over the studio of a recently deceased colleague at Baylor University.
Academic and administrative roles From 1983 to 1984, Eley was Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of Music Theater Workshop at Howard Payne University, teaching private voice, class voice, and opera workshop. He then served at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of Opera.
From 1987 onward, Eley joined Westminster Choir College as Associate Professor of Voice, later promoted to full Professor in 1998. His responsibilities included private instruction, supervision of student recitals, adjudication of examinations and competitions, and teaching courses such as Song Literature and language-focused singing courses.
Program leadership
Eley founded and directed the summer study program Vienna: Language of Lieder, which operated from 2012 to 2019, focusing on vocal performance and language study in an immersive setting.
Discography Eley appears on multiple recordings spanning art song, opera, choral, and contemporary repertoire, including:
Christmas Day (Affetto Records, 2019) Forever Sing (Affetto Records, 2017) Lenoriana (Affetto Recordings, 2015) Der Geist spricht / The Spirit Speaks (Centaur Records, 2013) Shining Brow (Naxos Records, 2009) Drifts and Shadows: American Song for the New Millennium (Albany Records, 2008) On Course (Albany Records, 2008) I Have Had Singing: Choral Music by Steven Sametz (Arsis Audio, 2008) What a Piece of Work is Man (Albany Records, 2005) Anthology of Art Songs: Music by Stefan Young (2000; reissued 2010) Dixit Dominus (MusicMasters Classics, 1991)
Videography The Bald Soprano (1997), Center for Contemporary Opera / Ron Myrvik Productions (role: Mr. Martin), winner of a Telly Award With Song and Good Cheer: A Victorian Christmas (1992), New Jersey Network; broadcast on NJN, WNET, and national syndication
Awards and recognition Eley has received recognition in vocal performance competitions and professional organizations, including:
Joy in Singing Award (1996), first-place winner Anna Hamlin Award for Artistry in Singing (1995) Singer of the Year, Texoma Region, National Association of Teachers of Singing (1983) Young Artist Winner, Indianapolis Matinee Musicale (1982) Regional Finalist, San Francisco Opera Auditions (1982) Maude Brush Stewart Award (1982) Listed in International Who’s Who in Music (1987)
References