Olivia Da Costa

Olivia’s first inspiration to play the cello came about when she was 3 years old; she had been watching my mother play and had told her that she wanted to play ‘one of those’. She joined the RCMJD at the age of 8, and here she spent 3 years developing her chamber music skills, orchestral skills and also regularly participated in performance platforms which gave her access to short solo recitals. During this period she studied with Sasha Boyarsky, and by the age of 11 had gained a distinction in grade 8 cello (ABRSM). Olivia has always been a dedicated orchestral musician; since the age of 9 she led the string orchestra of the RCMJD, and following this joined Suffolk Youth Orchestra, where she toured as principal cellist for 3 years. In July 2014, Olivia participated in the LSO String Academy, led by string principals of the LSO, where she learnt vital orchestral skills and explored a professional calibre of performance, culminating in a concert at LSO St Luke’s. Furthermore Olivia took part in the International Youth Symphony, where she was selected as one of four international cellists aged 16-25 to tour with them in San Diego for three weeks in July 2014. In addition, Olivia was a member of Britten Sinfonia Academy where she explored working as a chamber orchestral musician. In 2014 Olivia joined Aldeburgh Young Musicians where she was able to open her mind to many different genres and styles of music and performance, which has allowed her to develop myself as a musician, gaining versatility in her work. She has worked alongside many top level musicians of different genres including Pete Churchill, Charlotte Bray, and has performed at the London Jazz Festival with Led Bib. As a result of this Olivia has developed an interest in contemporary classical, folk, pop, improvisatory electronic music and jazz. Olivia has experience in the musical theatre industry, with previous performances at the Epsom Playhouse, Bishopsgate Institute and Theatre Royal Stratford East. Olivia regularly freelances in commercial work and has built up lots of experience in this field. Olivia made her concerto debut with the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra in November 2013, performing Bloch’s Schelomo, and was booked to perform the Elgar Cello Concerto in March 2015, as well as the Wolsey Orchestra in May 2015. Olivia studied with Felix Schmidt at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was awarded a scholarship at audition despite undertaking her undergraduate studies a year early. She has also had masterclasses with Alexander Baillie, Tim Hugh, Daniel Gardener and Anita Lasker Wallfisch. Olivia plays on a 19th Century Betts Cello kindly on loan from the Royal Academy of Music. Olivia graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with first class honours in 2019.