A duet through decades: Liz and Todd Fallis share a lifelong duet

Photo: Kirsten Kohlwey.

As if attached to an invisible windlass, you are drawn into Liz Fallis’ performance, from the joyful and energetic tones to the haunting timbres emanating from her flute. Todd Fallis accompanies Liz on percussion instruments, mostly the cajon or the box drum. These Old Town Park City residents met back in the ’80s when they were in graduate school at the University of Southern California (USC). 

Liz was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. Her parents were amateur musicians, and her mother still plays the harpsichord. Liz started playing the flute when she was 12 and was immediately enthralled by it. When her flute teacher, the first flautist at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, upgraded her instrument, Liz purchased her silver flute. She still plays this flute today but now uses a different gold mouthpiece. She received her MM (Master of Music) in Flute from USC and moved to Utah with Todd when he was offered a position in the music department at Utah State University. 

Liz has been playing with Celtic band Leaping Lulu, which tours all over Northern Utah. Leaping Lulu has performed on the Heber Creeper (for its St. Patrick’s Day train) for several years, and since 2008 has released four albums, which are available on iTunes and Spotify. For the past 30 summers, Liz and Todd have played in the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre Orchestra (UFOMT). A highlight of their careers was performing in the Classical Music Festival at Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria, which was composer Joseph Haydn’s home for 40 years. 

Liz and Todd also perform together at the MINERS9 Art Exhibit at the Miners Hospital, where they have played a selection of Celtic and classical music. As trained classical musicians, they enjoy the opportunity to share their multigenre music styles with the community. 

After completing his PhD in Music Education at USC, Todd started teaching at Utah State University in 1991 as a Professor of Trombone and Music Education. To show their appreciation of his teaching, Todd’s colleagues and many former students came together to dedicate a low-brass concert to him. Now that he is retired from USU, Todd often plays percussion with Leaping Lulu, instruments he used to teach when he was a music instructor in the Los Angeles and New York public schools.

Liz and Todd Fallis’ schedule is much more relaxed these days. This summer, they’ve been able to enjoy hiking in Park City without having to play two rehearsals or shows a day at UFOMT. While the opera is on hiatus, you can find Liz and Todd performing with Leaping Lulu about once a month, and as a musical duo when the opportunity arises.