Elise Testone (born July 29, 1983 in Kinnelon, New Jersey) is an American singer from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She is one of the Top 13 finalists for the eleventh season of American Idol 2012. Testone was born to LuAnne and Victor Testone. She grew up in Kinnelon, New Jersey. Testone attended Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, earning a bachelors degree in music in 2005. Prior to Idol, Testone was a voice instructor in Mount Pleasant