Elise Solberg
Born
Tokyo, Japan
Alma materUSC Thornton School of Music
Occupations
  • musician
  • pianist
  • composer
  • songwriter
Years active2018–present
Musical career
Websitewww.elisesolberg.com

Elise Solberg is a Japanese-American pianist, composer, and songwriter. She is best known for playing keyboards with Chloe x Halle, Chloe Bailey and Beyoncé's 2022 Oscar performance.[1] Solberg is the founder of Turn Up Her Mic.[2][3]

Early life and education

Elise Solberg was born in Tokyo, Japan, the daughter of Yoshiko née Arino and Tait Solberg, both musicians. Her father was Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, stationed in Japan.[4] He played saxophone and was a multi-instrumentalist performing all over the world. Elise Solberg accompanied her father to local performances in Japan,[5] which inspired her to pursue a career as pianist. At seven years old, she began studying piano at the Yamaha Advanced Piano Academy in Tokyo.

Upon retiring from the Air Force, Tait Solberg moved his family to Denver. Solberg studied classical music with Dr. Fifi Hut, Dr. Richard Holbrook, and Larry Graham, all of whom who encouraged her to enter competitions and music festivals. She won competitions sponsored by Yamaha, Kawai and Steinway. Solberg attended the International Institute of Musicians for three years. She won first prize in the Schmitt Music Competition in 2014.[2]

Solberg attended and graduated from the University of Southern California in 2018.[6] While at USC, she won prizes in the Sigma Alpha Iota competition and the Rio Hondo Young Artists competition.[6] She studied piano and composition with Russell Ferrante, Stewart Gordon and Patrice Rushen.

Career

Beyoncé

In 2022 Solberg played piano with Beyoncé for her "Be Alive" performance at the 94th Academy Awards.[1]

Chloe x Halle

In 2018, Solberg first performed with Chloe x Halle at the MTV Movie and TV Awards.[7] She has performed with Chloe x Halle since then.

Chloe Bailey

Other Live Appearances

Veteran's History Project 20th Anniversary Event Performance

On November 7, 2020, Elise Solberg was the pianist in a performance for the Veterans History Project's 20th Anniversary Event celebration at the Library of Congress.[17] Solberg's performance accompanied vocalist Hannah Goldblatt singing Roxanne Seeman and Charles Fox’s song “In Love and War.”[18] It was filmed at Mack Sennett Studios and live-streamed from the Library of Congress.[19] As part of the performance in honor of veterans and their stories, Solberg related Tait Solberg's history with the US Air Force.

On the weekend of Memorial Day 2021, Solberg joined Roxanne Seeman on The Jeremiah Show to talk about the making of their song performance of "In Love And War" for the Veterans History Project.[20]

Turn Up Her Mic

Solberg founded Turn Up Her Mic as a response to the need for a platform for women in underrepresented roles in the music industry such as musicians, producers, songwriters, music directors, among others.[2] Turn Up Her Mic is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 that organizes virtual panels with open attendance to the music community. It showcases female instrumentalists who discuss the challenges facing them. Panelists included Victoria Theodore (keyboardist for Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder),[21] Karina DePiano (Miley Cyrus, Fifth Harmony, and Troye Sivan)[22] and other women musicians in bands with Ariana Grande, Rihanna, BTS, and John Legend.

Solberg is a member of Alicia Keys’ She Is The Music.[23]

Recognition

John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Finalist 2018[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Thornton alumni perform with Beyoncé and Billie Eilish for the Oscars". USC Thornton School of Music. 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Stories, Local (16 September 2020). "Meet Elise Solberg of Turn Up Her Mic in Culver City - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  3. ↑ "SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW : Elise Solberg, founder of Turn up Her Mic". #WOMENCRUSH. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  4. ↑ "Parade". www.af.mil. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  5. ↑ "Pacific Stars And Stripes Archives, Feb 8, 1992, p. 7". NewspaperArchive.com. 1992-02-08. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  6. 1 2 "Alumni Accomplishments | USC Thornton School of Music". music.usc.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  7. ↑ "Chloe x Halle Bring Impassioned Two-Song Performance to 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards: Watch". Billboard. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  8. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (2018-11-09). "Chloe x Halle Bring String Quartet Onstage For 'Everywhere' on 'Corden'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  9. ↑ "Chloe x Halle Sizzle With Money-Making Anthem 'Everywhere' on 'Late Late Show': Watch". Billboard. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  10. ↑ O'Neill, Abby (8 December 2020). "Chloe x Halle: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  11. ↑ O'Neill, Abby (December 8, 2020). "Chloe x Halle: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". KRVS Radio. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  12. ↑ Newman, Jason (2019-02-08). "Dua Lipa, Chloe x Halle, Bebe Rexha Shine at Spotify's Best New Artist Grammy Party". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  13. ↑ "Demi Lovato, Chance the Rapper and Chloe x Halle Playing Pepsi 'Unmute Your Voice' Concert". Billboard. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  14. ↑ "Maren Morris, Chloe x Halle & More Set For Verizon's Slate of All-Female Virtual Music Events: Exclusive". Billboard. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  15. ↑ "The Best Moments From Los Angeles' Global Citizen Live". Billboard. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  16. ↑ "Watch Chloe Bailey Perform 'Have Mercy' With A Classical Twist". UPROXX. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  17. ↑ "Performance: In Love and War". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  18. ↑ "Veterans History Project celebrates 20th anniversary year, Nov. 6-14". Salina Post. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  19. ↑ Selden, Richard (2020-11-05). "Weekly Arts Round Up, November 5, 2020". The Georgetowner. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  20. ↑ "SN8 | Ep375 - Roxanne Seeman | Elise Solberg | Hannah Gold - In Love & War - The Jeremiah Show". iHeart. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  21. ↑ "VICTORIA THEODORE - FROM STEVIE TO TV". www.yamahaentertainmentgroup.com. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  22. ↑ "The Art of the Musical Director". music.usc.edu. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  23. ↑ Concepts, Lucid Design. "She Is The Music". She Is The Music. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  24. ↑ "John Lennon Songwriting Contest". jlsc.com. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
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