Gretchen Elise is a West Philadelphia- based vocalist, band leader and composer whose jazz-flavored, interactive, audience-participation driven original music is unforgettable. Her artistic journey began by starring in an operetta in 5th grade, swerved into competitive gymnastics and choreography before returning to music. An arts educator with a M.Ed from Harvard, she is grounded in community based work and thrives on collaboration. She speaks five languages and has performed with a World Music Orchestra in Berlin, and with jazz and Brazilian groups in Boston. Since 2004 she’s led her own original band, Gretchen Elise, and has performed in Philadelphia widely also with DivaNation, a female singer’s collective founded by Philadelphia Jazz Project. Her two original CDs, Time & Space (2010) and Are You Ready (2004) combine an international flavor with shades of Philly jazz & soul.