Elliott Dainow began studying piano at an early age in Montreal with Bob Silverman, but drifted into choral singing when he came to Vancouver in 1980. He was a founding member of Phoenix Chamber Choir and in 1988 returned to Montreal to sing with the Tudor Singers, a professional group.

In the later 1990s, inspired by Harold Brown, he returned to the piano and began accompanying choirs – Vivaldi Chamber Choir, the Peretz Folk Choir and the Unitarian Chalice Choir. As well, he accompanies solo singers and instrumentalists. He is also part of the a cappella folk quartet Quattro and arranges some of their music.