The American Orff-Schulwerk Association mourns the passing of Elizabeth “Liz” Gilpatrick, a gifted composer, dedicated educator, and cherished member of the Orff Schulwerk community. Liz died peacefully in Louisville, Colorado on March 13, 2026, at the age of 82, following complications from vascular dementia. Her contributions to music education—spanning decades of teaching, composing, presenting, and mentoring—have left an enduring mark on generations of students and colleagues.
Born June 7, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Liz grew up in Sheboygan as the only girl among six children. Nature, music, and scouting shaped her earliest years—she discovered the joy of singing at Girl Scout camp, taught herself harmony on a salvaged pump organ, and learned the trumpet in elementary school. By high school, she had traded the trumpet for the French horn and was immersed in every musical opportunity available to her.
A 1959 Girl Scout Roundup near Colorado Springs ignited a lifelong love of the mountains. After earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horn performance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Liz made her way west—first to Casper, Wyoming, where she served as a Girl Scout camp director, and eventually to Boulder, Colorado, where she built her career as an elementary music teacher at Heatherwood and Coal Creek Elementary schools in Boulder Valley Schools.
Liz’s passion for Orff Schulwerk began with her studies under the legendary Grace Nash, with whom she also taught in certification courses. She went on to found the Orff Schulwerk certification program at Colorado State University, where she mentored countless teachers in the art and pedagogy of elemental music-making. She was a devoted advocate for the work of Phyllis Weikart (University of Michigan), integrating Weikart’s sequential and multicultural approach to movement and dance into her teaching.
Liz was, for many years, a pillar of the national AOSA community. She served on the editorial board of The Orff Echo and also as the interim Chief Editor. Liz presented workshops for AOSA chapters across the country—from Arizona to Alaska, Massachusetts to Texas. She also led Saturday workshops and mini-conferences for the Rocky Mountain Orff Chapter, enriching the local community with her wit, musicality, and inventive spirit.
Liz was well known for her numerous compositions for children’s voices. Her collections were published by Alfred Music, and many remain available today. She also generously donated copies of her compositions and arrangements to the Rocky Mountain Orff Chapter for local use. In her later years, she turned her arranger’s eye to recorder ensemble music for adult players, taking special care to ensure every part was interesting and fun. Regrettably, these arrangements were never formally published.
Throughout her life, Liz pursued music and learning with equal curiosity. She became a skilled recorder player, performing with early music ensembles for many years. In retirement, she explored therapeutic harp and took up weaving with characteristic passion—eventually owning several looms and creating beautiful handwoven pieces.
In 1988, Liz met Stephanie Smythe, and the two built a rich life together in Louisville, Colorado. Their years were filled with travel to the West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, New Zealand, India, Panama, the Galápagos Islands, Iceland, Scotland, Costa Rica, and beyond. Despite having once declared herself emphatically not a cat person, Liz became a devoted and loving “cat parent.”
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Acreage by Stem Ciders in Louisville, Colorado. Those planning to attend are invited to RSVP by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 303-665-9338. Comfortable attire is encouraged; bring your stories and memories. In honor of Liz’s life and legacy, the family welcomes charitable donations in support of causes she held dear: children, nature, and music.