"Miss Thode," as she's known to us, was born April 20, 1907 in Walhalla, South Carolina, and it was there that she discovered her love of music.  In 1925, Elizabeth became one of the very first Juilliard scholarship recipients.  After Juilliard, Elizabeth attended Columbia University for another undergraduate and graduate degree.

Throughout the 1930's, Elizabeth studied abroad with world-renowned European musicians.  After her return from Europe, her performing career flourished.  She played for Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House and performed at the Metropolitan Opera House with the great Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior.

She served with great distinction for forty-six years at the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, (currently the New York Institute for Special Education), many of those years as its Director of Music.  Many successful students were guided by her expertise, including famous New York City musician, Dr. Valerie Capers

After retirement from the Institute, Elizabeth continued providing wonderful musical instruction and mentoring at the Bronx House in New York.  At the age of 83, she decided to start her own music school, the Bronx Conservatory of Music.  Elizabeth went to Valerie Capers to ask if she could help her find a home for the new music school.  Dr. Capers was chairman of the Department of Music and Art at Bronx Community College at that time, and was able to make it possible for the Bronx Conservatory of Music to use the campus of BCC and the Department of Music and Art facilities.

In 1991, The Bronx Conservatory of Music incorporated and secured 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization.  Elizabeth directed and taught there until she moved to North Carolina in 2000, and continues to serve as Director Emeritus today.