Elisa Olson

Elisa (Etchemendy) Olson grew up on a ranch in Wyoming where she celebrated her Basque culture through dance.  She currently teaches music in Billings where she emphasizes movement and the cultural significance of music in her elementary music classrooms. She also directs the 6th grade All-City Honor Band. She met her husband, Erik, in college where they both played saxophone and they now have three children. 

Elisa’s grandpa was a stellar rhythm guitar player and he took her to buy her first guitar when she became a music teacher. She was never brave enough to really play it with him back then, but she is making up for that now! She decided to start playing every day in 2021 to get better at teaching guitar to her students. She fell in love with it and has been playing constantly ever since. Elisa is thrilled that her kids will never remember a time when their mom didn't play guitar.

Music is about memories for Elisa. Growing up, she spent a lot of time in pickups and on horses singing along with her brothers to Ian Tyson, Bob Seger, James Taylor, Merle Haggard… now her musical memories are being made with her own family and while playing in the guitar duo “Kindred” with her friend, Angie Langeliers. Elisa’s guitar was a gift from her husband.  Her guitar strap was hand-made by one grandpa and she strives to play in a way that would make her other grandpa proud.