Elise Walters – Performing Artist, Educator & Arts Advocate

Elise Walters is a multifaceted performing artist whose work spans singing, piano, dance, choreography, acting, directing, and stage management. With a deep passion for arts education and nonprofit advocacy, she blends performance with a commitment to fostering the next generation of artists.

Based in Los Angeles since 2020, Elise has been an integral part of Theatre West for over three years, serving as both a member and Board member. She plays a key role in the company’s Storybook Theatre program and leads its arts education initiatives, bringing the transformative power of theater to students of all ages. She is a member of Actor’s Equity Association and actively involved in multiple arts organizations, including Source Filter Music Collective, where she helped establish its nonprofit status. She has also been a member of Opera Buffs, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting emerging artists in Los Angeles.

As a performer, Elise has taken on a wide range of roles across musical theater and opera. She recently sang the title role in Sancta Susanna, portrayed Charlie in Mighty Casey, and performed as a soloist with the Lompoc Pops Orchestra and Opera San Luis Obispo. She toured with Opera Modesto’s outreach production of Hansel and Gretel, singing the title role of Gretel in early 2025. Her stage credits also include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Sophie in Path to Catherine, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Crystal in Blood Supply, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance.

Beyond performance, Elise is an experienced educator and mentor. She teaches through Theatre West, Pacific Opera Project, and private instruction, ensuring that the arts remain accessible to diverse communities. Her arts administration experience includes roles at the Manhattan School of Music and the InterSchool Orchestras of New York. In addition to her work onstage, she has extensive experience in stage management and directing. In August 2024, she stage-managed Nasty Town, a large-scale immersive theater festival spanning eight venues and featuring 31 actors and over 140 props.

Her teaching journey began in 2013 in New York City while pursuing a degree in Music Education. She has taught for organizations such as Music to Your Home, Midori & Friends, and Choirs of America. Her students have gone on to book regional theater roles, Disney Channel projects, and various choirs in the greater Los Angeles area. Elise is dedicated to tailoring each lesson to the individual, ensuring that every student leaves feeling empowered, inspired, and confident. She continues to study with top professionals, staying at the forefront of innovation and vocal science to provide the highest quality instruction.

Elise believes that music is meant to heal and bring joy, and she fosters a supportive, engaging, and transformative learning environment for all.

I made a mistake on her other update form