Background
After giving her first perÂformÂance at the age of four, and attendÂing Royal ColÂlege of Music Junior departÂment, Olivia won music scholÂarÂships to Sherborne and then BryÂanÂston Schools, both in Dorset. She graduÂated from the Royal NorthÂern ColÂlege of Music in 1999; B.Mus (Hons) in AcaÂdemÂic StudÂies (2.1). At 21, inspired by a jazz summer school at the GuildÂhall School of music, Olivia disÂcovered the art of improÂvisaÂtion. This proÂpelled her into a postÂgraduÂate dipÂloma at Leeds ColÂlege of Music (DisÂtincÂtion in 2002). At Leeds, her curiÂosÂity drew her to many difÂferÂent styles of music such as Cuban music, Jazz and parÂticÂuÂlarly Indian Music.
After graduÂation she spent two years perÂformÂing with the Indian fusion band Savateen, playÂing their own oriÂginÂal works. HighÂlights were the Brno Street festÂivÂal in the Czech RepubÂlic and at the MilÂlenÂniÂum Park and Birla Temple, in CalÂcutta. In 2005, she decided to follow her dream by going to India to study with violin maesÂtro Kala RamÂnath, which became the first of many visits to the counÂtry. Her most recent visit was in 2019/20.
Performing projects and Collaborations
Within Jazz and World Music, Olivia has worked on many difÂferÂent proÂjects in UK and abroad with illuÂminarÂies such as Jean TousÂsaint, Tony Remy, MatÂthew Bourne, Adam Fairhall, Stuart McCalÂlum, AlaÂbaster DePlume, Kirsty Almeida, ShirÂley Smart and Jason Singh, Kefaya and Suns of Arqa.
Olivia has also worked with pop legends Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott.
She has played at GlaÂstonÂbury festÂivÂal and at major UK venues such as Queen ElizaÂbeth Hall, PurÂcell Room, Lowry Centre and BridgÂwaÂter Hall.
HowÂever, it was always OliviÂaâs dream to comÂpose music of her own. She has been the instigÂatÂor and leader of a handÂful of groups over the years. Firstly Strung Out with Lambâs bass player Jon Thorne. She also lead âThe Owl Ensembleâ, feaÂturÂing Simply Redâs bass player Sylvan RichardÂson, and John Ellis (keys) and Myke Wilson (Drums). The Owl Ensemble String QuarÂtet appeared with BeauÂtiÂful Southâs Paul Heaton for his show âThe 8thâ at the BarÂbican Centre (London) and Lowry (Manchester).
Her ongoÂing band Unfurl is an innovÂatÂive quinÂtet who colÂlabÂorÂate, drawÂing parÂticÂuÂlarly from their influÂences of Jazz and Indian. They have appeared at Manchester, Marsden, London and Brecon Jazz FestÂivals as well as at venues such as the BridgeÂwaÂter Hall Foyer and the BirmÂingÂham SymÂphony Hall Foyer, Sage Gateshead.
Awards
In 2009 Olivia was one of eight musiÂcians in the counÂtry to be selecÂted to be a parÂtiÂcipant of the SerÂiÂous Take Five artist develÂopÂment scheme. Olivia has regÂuÂlarly since looked to the Arts CounÂcil EngÂland, for help with tourÂing costs and to develÂop music.
Classical Indian Music
She has perÂformed with Kousic Sen, Lisa Mallet, JonathÂan Meyer, JasÂdeep Singh and has given solo recitÂals in the UK. She most recently colÂlabÂorÂated with ChitravÂina MaesÂtro N. RavikirÂan. She perÂforms every few years interÂnaÂtionÂally with Mukesh Jhadav
Multi-Media Work
Olivia has always been interÂested in comÂbinÂing with other art forms. In 2006 she comÂposed the soundtrack to a docÂuÂmentÂary film for ReliÂgious EduÂcaÂtion in schools, âBuddhist PilÂgrimÂage: An Indian SpirÂituÂal JourÂneyâ (The Clear Vision Trust).
A parÂticÂuÂlar highÂlight of her career was workÂing with LaMaÂchine, 2008 comÂmisÂsioned by LivÂerÂpool European CapÂitÂal of CulÂture, described by The ObservÂer as, âthe biggest, most specÂtacÂuÂlar piece of street theatre ever seen in the UKâ.
She also comÂposed for and dirÂecÂted Mask, a multi-media colÂlabÂorÂaÂtion at The ConÂtact Theatre, as part of Manchester Jazz FestÂivÂal in 2009 with moving image artist Mark CamerÂon Minard and her band âUnfurlâ.
Recording/ Albums
Olivia has recorÂded with proÂduÂcer Tony Remy for saxÂoÂphonÂist Jean Toussaintâs album âNazaireâ. She feaÂtures on Kirsty Almeidaâs âPure Blue Greenâ, Zoe Kyotiâs âWishÂing Boneâ, Jadid Ensembleâs âSigh of the Moorâ, KefayÂaâs âRadio InterÂnaÂtionÂalâ, âSeamÂingâ by SeamÂing To and Fiona Nehama Abrahamiâs âRandom Excessâ.
Olivia released her own album âAmoghasiddhiâ in 2008. Owl by the Owl Ensemble in 2011 and ArcaÂdia by Unfurl in 2012. She is about to release her next album âSleepÂing Giantsâ, also with Unfurl.