Ms. Ellsworth has been Artistic Director of Anima since 1996. She has prepared the Chorus for performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Mahler's symphonies No. 8 and No. 3 with Christoph Eschenbach, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms with Sir Georg Solti, and Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic. She has conducted the young singers in performances with Julia Roberts, Garth Brooks, Dennis DeYoung, Chicago area orchestras, featured broadcasts on WFMT, five CD recordings, and appearances at national conventions for Chorus America (2004 & 2005) and the American Choral Director's Association (1999 & 2003) as well as concert tours of Italy, Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, mainland China and South Africa.

Ms. Ellsworth has served on the Music Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, received the YWCA's Outstanding Leader for Arts and Culture Award for DuPage County (1999), and is in demand both nationally and internationally as a guest clinician.. She is also the editor of the Opera Workshop series for Boosey and Hawkes Publishing.

Ms. Ellsworth has over 20 years of teaching experience, having served on the music faculties of the College of DuPage, St. Andrews College in North Carolina, and the University of Southern California. She has also served on the music faculty of Doreen Rao's Choral Music Experience Institute for Choral Teacher Education since 1988. Ms. Ellsworth holds a Bachelor's degree with Special Departmental Honors from Macalester College under Dr. Dale Warland and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Arts with Honors from the University of Southern California. She also holds the Artist/Teacher diploma from the Choral Music Experience Institute.

Groups Directed

Anima - Young Singers of Greater Chicago