Lizzie Burns

Photographer: Shervin Lainez

Musician and educator Lizzie Burns is an experienced and sought after bassist and chamber musician who performs in chamber orchestras, continuo sections, rhythm sections, and new music ensembles. She has performed with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, recorded for major record labels and motion picture soundtracks, given dozens of world premieres, is a member of The Knights and A Far Cry, and is on faculty at the Hartt School of Music and the Mannes Conservatory at The New School, and Montclair State University.

Drawing abundant inspiration from her colleagues, Lizzie works with the International Contemporary Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Century Chamber Orchestra, East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO), The Orchestra of St Luke’s, and The New York City Ballet Orchestra, in addition to her membership in The Knights and A Far Cry. As an experienced historical bassist she has performed with the Handel and Haydn Society, Tafelmusik Baroque, and Teatro Nuovo. She is energized by collaborations with composers and has premiered works by Julia Wolfe, Caroline Shaw, Pauline Oliveros, Andy Akihio, and Jörg Widmann among many others, has performed with Henry Thredgill and Zooid, and has played a soloist for contemporary double bass repertoire across the country including works by Jacob Druckman, Elliot Carter, John Cage, Mario Davidovsky and James Tenney. She played on Broadway in Dave Malloy’s “Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812” alongside Josh Groban. Burns has recorded with soloists Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Pekka Kuusisto, Avi Avital and Nicholas Phan as well as popular artists including Jon Batiste, Chris Thile, Phoebe Bridgers, Ingrid Michaelson, Emily King, Wye Oak, and Joe Jackson. She has appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, recorded for the Sony Masterworks, Deutsche Grammophon, Naxos, New Amsterdam, and Nonesuch record labels, and can be heard on popular film and television soundtracks including HBO’s hit series “Succession”.

As an alum of Ensemble Connect, a rigorous two-year fellowship program based at Carnegie Hall, Lizzie is an experienced Teaching Artist who equally enjoys engaging with audiences from the stage of Carnegie Hall as she does performing in homeless shelters, for incarcerated communities, and working with public school students in The Bronx.

Lizzie attended the New England Conservatory and Boston University. Her primary teachers were Don Palma and Ed Barker, to whom she is eternally grateful.