Olivia is a Birmingham based oboist currently studying for an MMus in Instrumental Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under Jenni Philips and George Caird.
Originally from London, Olivia’s early musical education allowed her to perform alongside the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and work with musicians such as Pete Churchill and Neil Ferris, as well as record a programme for BBC Radio with Brian Blessed.
Leading up to her university education, Olivia was awarded the Bertenshaw Prize for contribution to Musical Performance and was offered a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, which she declined in order to read Music at Cardiff University. During her time at Cardiff University, Olivia was awarded the Undergraduate Fund Scholarship for academic achievement and was an elected member of the Music Society in addition to being appointed as Principal Oboe for the university Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Mark Eager), Chamber Orchestra (conducted by Andrea Quinn), Wind Orchestra, Operatic Society Orchestra and Contemporary Music Group (conducted by Robert Fokkens). Olivia also appeared as a soloist alongside the Cardiff University String Orchestra and award-winning Wind Orchestra.
Olivia graduated from Cardiff University in 2016 with First Class Honours, having tailored her degree to both performance and ballet musicology principles, and was awarded the Elizabeth Griffiths Prize for Outstanding Orchestral and Solo Performance following a grade of 80% in her final recital.
Olivia is currently in her second year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and during her study has been appointed as Principal Oboe of the Symphony Orchestra and Opera Orchestra, each on two occasions, in addition to performing as a finalist for the Andrew Downes Performance Prize. Olivia holds an interest in post-20th-century music and has premiered works by student composers at both Cardiff University and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in addition to performing the UK premiere of Kevin Volans’ Matepe for reed quintet in October 2017. In 2017, Olivia sought to enhance her contemporary musicianship and gained a place on the London Sinfonietta Academy. Olivia plays on a Marigaux 2001 oboe funded by the Humphrey Richardson Taylor Trust.
