L. Elise Carter is a musician who wears several hats. She is an organist, pianist, music director, professional flutist, and published composer. Ms. Carter began playing piano at age 6 and entered several concerto competitions before earning a degree in Music Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her organist career as Music Director at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Dumont, New Jersey, in 1999. While there she started a classical concert series and also organized concerts promoting cultural unity among the congregations that were sharing the church space. She worked as music director conducting the adult choir, the children’s choir and the bell choir. She is currently the Music Director at Calvary Lutheran Church in Allendale, New Jersey. 

Ms. Carter is qualified to train flutists to compete in competitions and has had competition winners perform in Carnegie Hall and win positions in All State Band and Orchestra. 

On piano, Ms. Carter teaches students who are just learning for fun, and not seeking to be at an intense level of competition.  Ms. Carter has studied organ with Craig Williams (organist and music director at West Point Academy in New York) as well as attended the Rider College Music Director program. As a professional piano accompanist, she has performed in Weill Recital hall in Carnegie Hall and accompanied numerous student recitals. 

Ms. Carter can be heard each week on Calvary Lutheran Church’s Facebook page, which live streams their service at 12:30pm each Sunday.