Elias Parish Alvars (born Eli Parish; 28 February 1808 – 25 January 1849), also known by the nom de plume Albert Alvars, was an English harpist and composer.
Alvars was born in Teignmouth, Devon in 1808. The baptismal record found at St James’s Church, West Teignmouth, reports: "Eli, son of Joseph and Mary Ann Parish". His father, an organist, voice teacher and book dealer in Teignmouth, gave him his first musical instruction.

He gave his first concert in Totnes in 1818 and in 1820 was sent to London to study with Nicolas Bochsa. In 1822 he applied to the Royal Academy of Music, where Bochsa had been appointed harp professor but was not accepted, probably because of his family's 1818 bankruptcy.Alvars was able to continue his lessons with Bochsa with the financial help of a local landowner.