Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielson

Kelsi Nielsen of Disney's High School Musical is portrayed by Olesya Rulin. A shy, timid but pretty young woman, Kelsi is a pianist and writer. It was her first time writing for the Winter musical of East High. She is often seen beside Ms. Darbus, the drama teacher, or beside a piano, writing songs. She is best friends with Martha and Taylor, and became the girlfriend of Jason at the end of the first film. Troy calls her the "playmaker" to boost her confidence.

When school musical season came along, Kelsi was excited to perform the songs she wrote. However, Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the school's most famous drama students, always prepared their own version of her songs for their performance. Disappointed at the wreck they did to her songs during an audition, she went down the stage only to trip and fall. Troy and Gabriella were there to help her pick up the pages of the manuscript, and they later rehearsed her original pieces together. Since then, Troy and Gabriella rehearsed with her for the auditions of the school play.

In the second installment of the film, Kelsi was hired as a pianist at the Lava Springs, the resort owned by Sharpay's family. She wrote a song which was sung by Gabriella and Troy, and consequently convinced them to join the summer talent show, to which they agreed. With much pressure from Sharpay, Kelsi stood up to her and made Sharpay realize what a mean person she really is.



(Photo courtesy of Disney)