Elizabeth obtained her Bachelor of Music Honours from the Victorian College of the Arts / University of Melbourne. During this period she was also a member of the Victoria State Opera.
As a company member of Opera Australia she took part in over 200 performances. Elizabeth’s engagements with OA included Liu in Puccini’s Turandot with Michael Sylvester and Leona Mitchell, Alice Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Bryn Terfel (covering Yvonne Kenny), Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme, Leila in Bizet’s Pearl Fishers (with David Miller) under Maestro Richard Bonynge, Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, First Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and the ‘Wagner Spectacular’ conducted by Simone Young as well as countless other performances.
Elizabeth engaged in intensive vocal training in New York City and commenced North American engagements with the Canadian Opera Company performing the role of Ortlinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre.
Elizabeth performed the role of Gerhilde and covered Brünnhilde (Lisa Gasteen) in Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen for the State Opera of South Australia under Maestro Asher Fisch. Elizabeth features on the ‘Melba Recordings’ /SOSA CD box set recording where reviews included “Elizabeth Stannard’s Gerhilde displays a glorious voice” – Göran Forsling: MusicWeb International.
Elizabeth continued her vocal studies in London with vocal technicians and coaches from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and performed in Italy at the Festival Internazionale della Musica under the music directorship of the Concertmaster of the Netherlands Orchestra.
With the Canadian Opera Company Elizabeth has taken part in productions of Puccini’s La Boheme (Mimi) and Wagner’s Siegfried (Brünnhilde), covering Frances Ginzer. In their full production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle (to mark the opening of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts) she performed the role of Ortlinde in Die Walküre and covered Brünnhilde (Susan Bullock). In the COC production of Beethoven’s Fidelio she covered Leonore (Adrienne Pieczonka) and Senta in Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer.
She made her debut in the roles of Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos) with the Victorian Opera and performed Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House, both to critical acclaim.
In the United States she performed Dorabella in Così fan tutte with Opera Carolina and Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio with Opera Minima in the UK.