Elizabeth Cannon-Lynch

Elizabeth Cannon-Lynch ("Beth") was born, Elizabeth Ann White, in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, as the daughter of two musicians, with close family ties to the first recordings of the Grand Ole Opry. Her parents' courtship grew from their involvement as singer/performers for Atlanta's Youth for Christ and its weekly radio broadcast. Beth's great-grandmother wrote out the words of the folk song "Footprints in the Snow" for her grandson (who was Beth's second cousin) Cleo Davis, an original member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys. Beth began singing harmony with her grandmother, in the alto section of the church choir,from a time when she was so small that she had to have help climbing up onto the pew. She began playing the piano and banjo by ear from a very young age as well, but incorporated more formal musical training from her dad's background and education at Bob Jones' University. Although she was a church music director for many years and holds the emotional quality of Gospel and Spiritual music as closest to her heart, Beth branched out into musical theatre in her twenties. From 1982 until 1994, Beth taught music, dance, and acting to children and adults while performing in the Reno/Tahoe area. Her stage credits include roles as a pick-a-little lady in "Music Man," a dancer in the opening auditions of "Chorus Line," the leading role as Nancy in the musical "Oliver," and Faye Templeton in "George M," which enjoyed a 16 week run at Harvey's Casino in Lake Tahoe. Beth also directed musicals, created theme-based convention shows, and directed performing groups. She was the vocal musical director for "Grease" at Reno Little Theater in 1992; the director of a 60-person choir that backed LaToya Jackson in a 1991 pay-per-view production; and taught a children's musical theatre workshop in Lake Oswego, Oregon during summer after her first year of law school - where she was learning an entirely new type of tap dance.