Musician | Composer | Cultural Architect

Elizabeth (Eli) Obando is a Colombian-Australian musician, composer, arts leader, and tour manager whose career has helped shape Australia’s Latin, multicultural, and female-led music landscape. With nearly two decades of experience, she has built a reputation for combining artistic excellence with strategic leadership, creating platforms, ensembles, and events that amplify underrepresented voices while delivering work of a high professional standard. Her practice sits at the intersection of music, cultural programming, community leadership, and logistics. Eli is known not only for her creative vision, but also for her exceptional capacity to bring ambitious artistic projects to life, from ensemble development and composition to event production, touring, and long-term cultural strategy.

As Founder and Manager of Queen of Hearts, Eli leads Australia’s only all-female mariachi ensemble, recognised by Rolling Stone Australia and considered a landmark in the country’s musical landscape. As Manager and Composer of Calle Luna, she has developed a project that reflects both her artistic originality and her commitment to representation within the tropical music scene. She is also President and Co-Founder of Hermosa Music, a women-led not-for-profit booking agency and social enterprise supporting gender equality in music. Additionally, she is the founder and manager of Latin Muses Collective, a network of Latin American female musicians through which she has led independent festivals and regional tours, and co-founder of Ella Trinidad, Australia’s first salsa project led entirely by women.

Eli’s creative work is grounded in a rhythm-driven approach that connects her Colombian and Andean heritage with contemporary global sounds. She composes across multiple projects including Sunseeds, Queen of Hearts, Calle Luna, Ella Trinidad, and her solo work. As a performer, she specialises in electric bass and vocals, and also plays guitar, cuatro, and charango.

With more than 20 years of experience in event production and touring, Eli has led national tours and major performances across Australia, including Melbourne Recital Centre, Port Fairy Folk Festival, National Folk Festival, and Cobargo Folk Festival. She has also coordinated recording projects including albums and live studio sessions, acting as a bridge between artists and producers.

Her academic background includes studies in Jazz and Contemporary Music at Melbourne Polytechnic (2012), a Master in Social Management from ESAP, Colombia (2006), and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia (2004).

Her career highlights include recognition by Rolling Stone Australia, founding Australia’s only all-female mariachi ensemble, and leading multiple pioneering cultural projects focused on diversity and representation.