{{Short description|Japanese-American pianist and songwriter}} {{Infobox person | name = Elise Solberg | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Elise Solberg.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Tokyo, Japan | alma_mater = USC Thornton School of Music | occupation = {{flatlist| * musician * pianist * composer * songwriter }} | years_active = 2018–present | spouse = | children = | awards = | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = | label = | associated_acts = Chloe x Halle, Beyoncé | website = {{URL|https://www.elisesolberg.com}} | signature = }} }} '''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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=Thornton alumni perform with Beyoncé and Billie Eilish for the Oscars |url=https://music.usc.edu/thornton-alumni-perform-with-beyonce-and-billie-eilish-for-the-oscars/ |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=USC Thornton School of Music |language=en-US}}</ref> Solberg is the founder of Turn Up Her Mic.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Stories|first=Local|title=Meet Elise Solberg of Turn Up Her Mic in Culver City - Voyage LA Magazine {{!}} LA City Guide|url=http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-elise-solberg-turn-mic-culver-city/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=voyagela.com|date=16 September 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW : Elise Solberg, founder of Turn up Her Mic|url=http://www.womxncrushmusic.com/1/post/2020/08/spotlight-interview-elise-solberg-founder-of-turn-up-her-mic.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=#WOMENCRUSH|language=en}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parade|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000030119/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.af.mil|language=en-US}}</ref> He played saxophone and was a multi-instrumentalist performing all over the world. Elise Solberg accompanied her father to local performances in Japan,<ref>{{Cite web|date=1992-02-08|title=Pacific Stars And Stripes Archives, Feb 8, 1992, p. 7|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-feb-08-1992-p-7/|access-date=2021-12-26|website=NewspaperArchive.com|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />

Solberg attended and graduated from the University of Southern California in 2018.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Alumni Accomplishments {{!}} USC Thornton School of Music|url=https://music.usc.edu/alumni/accomplishments/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=music.usc.edu}}</ref> While at USC, she won prizes in the Sigma Alpha Iota competition and the Rio Hondo Young Artists competition.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":2" />

=== Chloe x Halle === In 2018, Solberg first performed with Chloe x Halle at the MTV Movie and TV Awards.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Chloe x Halle Bring Impassioned Two-Song Performance to 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/chloe-x-halle-2018-mtv-movie-tv-awards-performance-8461701/|access-date=2021-10-04|magazine=Billboard|date=19 June 2018|language=en}}</ref> She has performed with Chloe x Halle since then.

* The Late Late Show with James Corden<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Spanos|first=Brittany |date=2018-11-09|title=Chloe x Halle Bring String Quartet Onstage For 'Everywhere' on 'Corden'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chloe-x-halle-everywhere-corden-beyonce-grownish-754021/|access-date=2020-12-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Chloe x Halle Sizzle With Money-Making Anthem 'Everywhere' on 'Late Late Show': Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/late-late-show-chloe-x-halle-everywhere-watch-8484119/|access-date=2020-12-27|magazine=Billboard|date=9 November 2018|language=en}}</ref> * NPR's Tiny Desk<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chloe x Halle: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/08/943851924/chloe-x-halle-tiny-desk-home-concert|access-date=2020-12-27|website=NPR.org|date=8 December 2020|language=en|last1=O'Neill|first1=Abby}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Abby|date=December 8, 2020|title=Chloe x Halle: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert|url=https://www.krvs.org/post/chloe-x-halle-tiny-desk-home-concert|access-date=December 27, 2020|website=KRVS Radio}}</ref> * Spotify's Pre-Grammy Party for Best New Artist Nominees<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Newman|first=Jason|date=2019-02-08|title=Dua Lipa, Chloe x Halle, Bebe Rexha Shine at Spotify's Best New Artist Grammy Party|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/spotify-best-new-artist-grammy-party-791912/|access-date=2020-12-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> * Pepsi's Unmute Your Voice Concert<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Demi Lovato, Chance the Rapper and Chloe x Halle Playing Pepsi 'Unmute Your Voice' Concert|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/demi-lovato-chance-the-rapper-and-chloe-x-halle-playing-pepsi-unmute-your-voice-concert-9461856/|access-date=2020-12-27|magazine=Billboard|date=7 October 2020|language=en}}</ref> * Verizon Up Concert<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Maren Morris, Chloe x Halle & More Set For Verizon's Slate of All-Female Virtual Music Events: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/verizon-up-concert-lineup-9461797/|access-date=2020-12-27|magazine=Billboard|date=9 October 2020|language=en}}</ref> *Global Citizen Live<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The Best Moments From Los Angeles' Global Citizen Live|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9636446/global-citizen-live-best-moments/|access-date=2021-10-04|magazine=Billboard|date=26 September 2021|language=en}}</ref>

=== Chloe Bailey ===

* The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-13|title=Watch Chloe Bailey Perform 'Have Mercy' With A Classical Twist|url=https://uproxx.com/music/chloe-bailey-performs-have-mercy-on-fallon/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=UPROXX|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Other Live Appearances ===

* The Kids Are Alright, ABC, on-camera pianist<ref name=":0" /> * The Unicorn, NBC, on-camera pianist<ref name=":0" />

=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Performance: In Love and War|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-9513/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Library of Congress}}</ref> Solberg's performance accompanied vocalist Hannah Goldblatt singing Roxanne Seeman and Charles Fox’s song “In Love and War.”<ref>{{Cite web|title=Veterans History Project celebrates 20th anniversary year, Nov. 6-14|url=http://salinapost.com/posts/292fa908-e4b0-4253-862b-58780a14d5d7|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Salina Post|date=31 October 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> It was filmed at Mack Sennett Studios and live-streamed from the Library of Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Selden|first=Richard|date=2020-11-05|title=Weekly Arts Round Up, November 5, 2020|url=https://georgetowner.com/articles/2020/11/05/weekly-arts-round-up-november-5-2020/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Georgetowner|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SN8 {{!}} Ep375 - Roxanne Seeman {{!}} Elise Solberg {{!}} Hannah Gold - In Love & War - The Jeremiah Show|url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-the-jeremiah-show-30049143/episode/sn8-ep375-roxanne-seeman-83100948/|access-date=2021-12-26|website=iHeart|language=en}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name=":0" /> 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),<ref>{{Cite web|title=VICTORIA THEODORE - FROM STEVIE TO TV|url=https://www.yamahaentertainmentgroup.com/all-access/item/446-victoria-theodore-from-stevie-to-tv|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.yamahaentertainmentgroup.com|language=en-gb}}</ref> Karina DePiano (Miley Cyrus, Fifth Harmony, and Troye Sivan)<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Art of the Musical Director|url=https://music.usc.edu/the-art-of-the-musical-director/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=music.usc.edu|date=22 March 2016|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Concepts |first=Lucid Design |title=She Is The Music |url=https://sheisthemusic.org/ |access-date=2020-12-27 |website=She Is The Music |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Recognition == John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Finalist 2018<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Lennon Songwriting Contest|url=https://jlsc.com/winners/2017b/finalists.php|access-date=2020-12-27|website=jlsc.com}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{YouTube|id=8itzkAi3rxo|title= Veterans History Project 20th Anniversary Celebration "Performance: In Love and War" from Library of Congress}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solberg, Elise}} Category:Musicians from Tokyo Category:Japanese emigrants to the United States Category:Japanese jazz musicians Category:Japanese jazz pianists Category:Japanese women pianists Category:Living people Category:Japanese women in electronic music Category:21st-century Japanese pianists Category:American dance musicians Category:American funk keyboardists Category:American jazz keyboardists Category:American soul keyboardists Category:Jazz musicians from California Category:Rhythm and blues pianists Category:Songwriters from California Category:USC Thornton School of Music alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century women pianists