Elizabeth Brown studied organ with David Thorburn at North Park College, where she graduated in 1972 with a degree in Math, and went on to a career as a CPA and attorney. For most of her career, she served as Assistant General Counsel and then General Counsel for The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. She retired in 2014, but still does occasional legal work in the fields of estate planning and tax. After many years of not playing organ, she began substituting at First Presbyterian Church of Evanston in 2009.
Elizabeth’s non-musician husband, Gene Thiele, is a pipe organ aficionado, and they both enjoy attending organ recitals. After touring historic pipe organs in New England, Gene purchased a Rogers organ for their apartment on EBay to encourage Elizabeth to begin playing again. It arrived in non-working order, but Gene, being an electronics expert, was able to repair it. Elizabeth has appreciated the opportunity to get to know some of the North Shore organists and learn about the music programs at their churches.
Aside from music, Elizabeth enjoys traveling, studying and teaching the Bible, and spending time with family. She has one son, two step-children, and four grandsons ages six and under.