Elizabeth Byrd has been described as Classically trained, musically free...is a cellist who plays and creates music across genres and styles, from classical to world fusion. She trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts and The Juilliard School, and has taught and performed with various orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, the London Festival Orchestra, and the Palm Beach Pops Orchestra. She has also produced and participated in diverse concerts, from chamber music to Broadway shows. She was the president of the Oregon Cello Society and the principal cellist for the BRAVO! Vancouver orchestra and chamber music concert series. Presently, she on the music faculty at Clark College in Vancouver, WA.  She writes music for theater, records healing albums, and using her cello as a tool for mindfulness and well-being. She collaborates with renowned artist and leads improvisation workshops. She is the founder of The Healing Cello, a project that offers cello-centric soundscapes and meditations. The Healing Cello has been presented at international healing conferences, clinics, yoga centers, concert halls, and summer festivals. She is a co-founder of The Art & Heart of Improvisation Workshops, a program that helps musicians experience the freedom and joy of their authentic music. She resides in Portland, Oregon.