Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan where she studied with Jeff Solow, Nina DeVeritch, and Jerome Jelinek. Upon graduation she received high honors in Music Theory as well as a Minor in Arts Administration. Her Master of Music in Cello Performance from Carnegie Mellon University was obtained under the guidance of Anne Martindale-Williams, the Principal Cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

She has participated in the summer festivals of Grand Teton Seminar, National Orchestral Institute, Kent Blossom, Scotia Festival of Music, and Festival at Round Top, serving as principal and assistant cellist with the orchestras in these programs.

Elizabeth has studied chamber music with members of the Cavani, Cleveland, Miami, and Alexander Quartets and other renowned chamber musicians such as Abraham Loft, Norm Fischer, Anthony Elliot, and Fred Sherry.

Elizabeth has performed extensively with a variety of chamber music ensembles. During the years 1993-1999 she was a member of the Sartory and Lake String Quartets. The Lake Quartet performed over 60 concerts in Yellowstone National Park during each summer of 1997 and 1998 for visitors from all over the world. Elizabeth was a founding member of the Sequoia Trio, a Bay-area piano trio specializing in women’s music (1996-1999). She was a founding member of the wonderfully original group Luna Nova Quartet, a member 2000-2008.

In addition to her post as Principal Cellist of Vallejo Symphony, Elizabeth is currently a member of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, and Marin Symphony. She was a former Principal Cellist of Stockton Symphony, Assistant Principal Cellist of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Napa Valley Symphony; as well as a member of Fresno Philharmonic.

During the summer of 1999, Elizabeth toured Japan with a studio-based orchestra from Los Angeles She experienced two European tours (Summer 2000 & 2001) and one NYC tour (2002) with Rosin Coven, the premier Pagan Lounge Ensemble. Currently she plays and composes with this group and adds a wide variety of influence to their avant-garde collaborations. Pagan Lounge Music is a genre proudly birthed in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Teaching is a huge part of Elizabeth’s musical being. An integral part of growth in Elizabeth’s musicianship is to teach and share music with others. This keeps her churning, always exploring new ways to play and teach music.

"Music as a Metaphor" is a concept at the forefront of her teaching. This is the complete work into how music can compliment, influence, and reveal much in our ives. Building blocks on this learning journey are musicality through tone, body awareness, and creative expression.

She enjoys a private teaching studio out of her home, Vandervennet Studios. Teaching philosophy includes treating each student as an individual while matching their goals to hers through exploration of a variety of cello fundamentals, repertoires, body awareness, metaphors, and endless questions. During each year, she oversees several cello workshops. She maintains a studio of anywhere from 6 to 14 students at any given time. A commitment is made on the part of her, so in return a commitment to music studies from each student is expected.

Through her many years teaching, Elizabeth had taught all ages and levels, students have been as ripe as 70 or as fresh as 4 years old. Some students have been adults new to music, while others have come to reconnect with past music making. Most students attend weekly lessons and some have won music scholarships at college level, while others simply play for the love of music. Some students have travelled the world with youth orchestras and others have been happy enogh to play at home alone. There was even one student who discovered her stand-up comic abilities through cello, really it is true. What kind of student do you want to be?

Ms. Vandervennet has also found time to teach as a specialist in several public schools throughout Oakland as part of the Oakland East Bay Symphony’s Music for Excellence program (MUSE). Through this program members of the OEB teach collaboratively with the public music school teachers of Oakland Unified school district. Elizabeth has been a part of elementary, middle , and high school coaching throughout the district. She has served on the advisory committee for the OEB MUSE program and the OEBS Board committee for Education and Outreach.

In the past she has taught at the Community Music Center of San Francisco, Crowden Center of Berkeley, San Francisco Conservatory‘s Summer Music West, Young Musician’s Program of California at Berkeley, and Patton Academy and College. She has taught cello methods at California State University of Hayward.

Education and Outreach is another way Elizabeth has reached students. She has brought countless chamber music and orchestral performances to students of all ages. The chamber music programs have been specially geared to create interest and enthusiasm while students learn about music. These performances have been up close and personal usually with interaction with the students with questions and answer sessions as a finale to each program.