Elise Frawley

Elise Frawley enjoys performing as a classical and contemporary violist. Equally at home in Carnegie Hall and Rockwood Music Hall, she has been fortunate to perform as an orchestral musician, chamber musician, contemporary artist, and soloist throughout the country.

Elise’s orchestral experience has led her to performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Aldeburgh Music Festival, and other major venues throughout the US. Ensembles she has performed with include the American Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of New York, Ensemble LPR, among several others. She has been fortunate enough to work with several notable conductors, including Neemi Jaarvi, Gerard Schwarz, Philippe Entremont, Oliver Knussen, and the late Kurt Masur.

As a chamber musician and soloist, Elise performs works in the contemporary and traditional canons, particularly those by less recognized composers. Elise performs in a duo with acclaimed Portuguese pianist Nuno da Silva Marques. Their recent program, entitled "Women Composers of New York", was presented through Trinity Wall Street Church at the historic St. Paul's Chapel and highlighted pieces by female composers who lived in New York, composed, and played viola throughout the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. Elise also gave the New York premiere of Sally Beamish's Viola Concerto No. 2, "The Seafarer" with the Chelsea Symphony at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music.

In pop and contemporary music, Elise has performed with Paul Simon, St. Vincent, Danger Mouse, Alessia Cara, Julia Michaels, Meghan Trainor, Kygo, Halsey, Andrew Bird, Pharaohe Monch, Jacky Cheung, Olafur Arnalds, Sam Cohen, Pink Martini, Grace McLean, Santino Fontana, Nathan Gunn, Matthew E. White, Sweet Electra, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Falls, Landlady, Aerial East, Cassandra Jenkins, and the Airborne Toxic Event. She has performed at the Beacon Theatre, Joe's Pub, New York's Town Hall, Central Park SummerStage, the American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and SXSW. Elise performed alongside avant-garde composer Tony Conrad and Velvet Underground member John Cale at the opening of the downtown Whitney Museum for the soundtrack to Andy Warhol's film, Empire.

Elise has appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, America's Got Talent, The History Channel's ‘Stan Lee's Superhumans’, and the Amazon Prime Original Series ‘Mozart in the Jungle’. She is a regular recording musician for bands and artists through record labels such as Likeminds and Mason Jar Music. Recent projects include Danger Mouse and Sam Cohen’s ‘Resistance Radio’ album featuring Beck, Karen O, James Mercer, and others; as well as Spotify Live sessions with the artist Shallou.

Elise is a passionate teacher and advocate for arts education. She is a Teaching Artist with the Midori & Friends organization and holds a faculty position at the 92Y School of Music, in addition to maintaining a private viola/violin studio. Her students range from pre-school age through adulthood, of varying levels and musical backgrounds. Elise believes that music lessons should be tailored to the individual student, and can help foster discipline, focus, creativity, and an appreciation for the arts.

Born in Westchester County, New York, Elise received her Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and her Master of Music from New York University, where she also served as Adjunct Instructor of Viola. Elise has been the recipient of several awards, including the Lucie Bigelow-Rosen Scholarship given by the Caramoor Center for the Arts, the Manhattan School of Music Merit Scholarship, New York University Talent Scholarship, and the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition Award.

Elise performs in classical, contemporary, and popular music settings. She performs as a soloist and with her duo partner, pianist Nuno Marques da Silva, or as a member of the Suono String Quartet for public and private events. She is available for orchestral, ensemble, television, live concert, and recording projects.