Who is Elizabeth Younan?
I am a composer from Sydney. I love to drink tea with honey, lemon and ginger, and my favourite thing to do is spend time with my family. The older I get, the more I cherish moments of stillness where I can breathe deeply and rest my head on my grandfather’s shoulder. I am very lucky to be able to experience such rich joys.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
When I was a child, I always thought I would be an author. I had written several bad novels by the age of 12, but I adored doing it and would disseminate chapters to my school friends weekly who were patient enough to read them, and kind enough to ask for the next. The impulse never left me, however, and so I have written a play (with music) that I will be producing at Juilliard in the fall semester of this year as part of my doctoral studies there.
Who inspires you and why?
My mother. She is a woman of such tremendous strength and courage. I owe everything to her.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I try to make a small difference in the world through my compositions. Beethoven was such a great source of comfort and joy for me when I was a teenager, and it has always been my ultimate goal to make people feel the same way I felt when I listened to Beethoven. I would also eliminate microplastics from the world if I could. I hate that microplastics are quite literally – without hyperbole – everywhere.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Melbourne, because I have a lot of family who live there.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I would take them to the Blue Mountains, about an hour’s drive from Sydney. I would show them The Three Sisters. Leura and Katoomba are incredibly beautiful and places of nostalgia for me.
What are you currently reading?
Dog Songs by Mary Oliver.
What are you currently listening to?
Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan, and the chansons of Sermisy, to name a few.
Happiness is?
Being able to go to bed each night knowing that you did everything in your power that day to be at least 1% better than what you were the day before. I say this now, because I am currently preparing for my doctoral exams! But happiness is really just peace, and the luxury to be able to purposefully consider two different apples in your hands and ponder which one you will buy.
What does the future hold for you?
You’ll have to check in with me again in ten years’ time when I am 42, so that I can tell you what was in store!
Elizabeth is the Composer of String Quartet No.1, Interwoven – which will be presented by the Australian String Quartet as part of the program for its first national tour for 2026. For more information, visit: www.asq.com.au for details.
Image: Elizabeth Younan (supplied)