Elke Firth developed a deep love for music because her parents exposed her to the music of the masters at a very young age.  At the age of 11, she was given her first opportunity to conduct a children’s choir of her peers at a Stake Conference in former Communist East Germany, her place of birth.  Her piano teacher included the hymns in his lessons after she barely learned the basics of music theory. She played the hymns in church in addition to the classics, and in her early twenties started to conduct ward and stake choirs with a passion and interpretation that she considers an “innate gift from God.” Although Elke received her elementary education in Communist East Germany, she loved to learn and improve her musical talents. After barely graduating from high school in America, Elke started an advertising business while she raised her family. She attended Salt Lake Community College and the University of Phoenix, and retired as a paralegal. In 2005, after Elke attended a Sterling Singers concert, she not only joined the choir, but knew that she found a home where she could offer her business and organizational skills.

She feels that she was led to the Sterling Singers at just the right time in her life, and is very fortunate to be able to continue to share her love of music with many audiences.  She has one son and a beautiful daughter-in-law, and is Oma to four wonderful grandchildren.  Her motto — if you serve others, you will never be without friends!