Beth Enloe Fritz

Beth Enloe Fritz graduated in 1992 from UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Under mentors Dr. Eph Ehly and Dr. Charles Robinson, she earned three degrees: BME (vocal and instrumental certification), and BAs in Music Therapy and Psychology. In 2005, she earned an MM in Jazz (emphasis: vocal jazz arranging) from Webster University. She has been with the SLSO IN UNISON Chorus since the 2011/12 season.

In 2023, Fritz retired after 31 years of teaching, having written and developed curricula and taught K-12 students in subjects including general music, guitar, band, and choral music. She has also given voice lessons to singers of all ages.

Fritz taught in the Pattonville, Kirkwood, and Fort Zumwalt School Districts. She is proud to be a member of the original faculty for 25 years at Fort Zumwalt West High School in O’Fallon, Mo., where she started and directed five choirs, taught music appreciation and AP music theory, and directed annual musicals. Fritz was nominated five times for Educator of the Year by students and colleagues. Under her direction, in 2008 and 2019 the Fort Zumwalt West Jazz & Madrigal Ensembles were chosen to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) state conference. The 2019 J&M was also given the 43rd Annual Student DownBeat Award (2020) for High School Outstanding Performance and for Outstanding Lead Soloist. For 21 years, she provided singers in the Missouri All-State Honors Choir and, from its inception, 15 years in the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

As a proud member of the MMEA and American Choral Directors Association, Fritz has served by leading sessions at state and division conferences; coordinating the St. Louis Metro All-District Honors Choirs and the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensembles (DownBeat Honors Ensemble Winners 2016 & 17); and represented St. Louis Metro on Missouri Choral Directors Association’s (MCDA) Executive Board. She has been the MCDA Resource and Repertoire Chairperson for Multicultural, High School, and Jazz (and for SWACDA). Fritz was the 2008 MMEA St. Louis Metro District Outstanding Educator and a four time recipient of the MCDA St. Louis Metro Outstanding Director.

In her retirement, Fritz continues to serve as an adjudicator, clinician, and a substitute teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Clayton, Parkway, and Fort Zumwalt, as well as an adjunct professor at Webster University. She likes cooking and photography and is an aspiring children’s book author. She loves to travel with her husband, Dave.