“She exhibits superhuman control and stamina over every note, gliss, click and hum…utterly spellbinding.” ”
Based in Denver and Los Angeles, Élise Ming Chu Roy is a freelance composer, flutist, and improviser. Her work consists of sonic collages of digital and acoustic materials. In recent pieces she has created complex sound worlds by layering traditional instrumental sounds and extended techniques with audio that included samples of NASA space missions and field recordings of elephants. Amongst her current projects is being a co-director and flutist for the tiny backpack series in Los Angeles. She can also be found teaching flute and computer music at University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Élise has been commissioned by ensembles such as the LA Phil, gnarwhallaby, Brightwork New music, House on Fire, and the SPLICE ensemble. Her music has been performed at festivals all over the world including PAS-E (Venice, Italy), SEAMUS (Blacksburg, Virginia), and NYCEMF (New York City), and she is a recipient of an ASCAP/SEAMUS commissioning award. Previously she was an associate director of the wasteLAnd concert series and a flutist in the wasteLAnd ensemble. Élise has previously taught electronic music and coached chamber music at the SPLICE Institute, Chapman University, and the New Mexico School for the Arts.
Élise is a graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory, where she earned double undergraduate degrees in neuroscience and flute performance studying under Michel Debost and Kathleen Chastain. She is also a graduate of CalArts where she earned a masters degree in flute performance studying under Rachel Rudich. After leaving school, she studied composition privately with Erik Ulman.
