Elsa Papeli was born and raised in Athens. She started piano lessons at the age of 6, which she attended for another 6 years. A few years later, she began classical cello studies at the National Conservatory (central), in the class of Olga Bakmanidi. In 2011, she received the Cello Diploma with honors. Later she attended classes in Ottoman music and Makam theory at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory. Alongside her music studies, she also studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts, in the Department of Painting, from where she graduated in 2009.
She has partnered with the ERT Symphony Orchestra and the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra and has collaborated with composers such as Nikos Mamagakis, Pigi Lykoudi, Anna Stereopoulou, as well as with the internationally renowned soprano Sonia Theodoridou.
She is a permanent member of the groups: "DuoKrama", "Lady Fingers Quartet", "Athens Chamber Ensemble 2012", "Chrysoula K. & Purpura" and "Cinema Paradiso Project".
She has taken part in classical, traditional and pop music festivals in many parts of Greece (Arda Festival, Syros, Serifou etc.). In March and April 2018, she participated in a tour in Australia with the musical group "Chrysoula K. & Purpura", where she played at the festivals: Cobargo Folk Festival, Rebetiko Festival of Melbourne, Greek Festival of Sydney, National Folk Festival of Canberra and Festival Hellenica in Adelaide. In the summer of the same year, she participated in the tour of the Argentine music and dance show "Buenos Tangos: Romper el Piso", performing in open theaters all over Greece. Since 2011 she has been working in Athens as a musician and teacher of cello and chamber music.