Olivia Katz,
Olivia Katz
Cello
Teaching Philosophy
“My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that music education is a journey of discovery and growth. My goal is to create a supportive, fun, and welcoming environment where students can develop their skills, appreciation, and love of music.
I believe that the foundation of effective cello technique lies in a deep awareness of the body; I prioritize teaching students to play without pain and emphasize that any discomfort should be brought to my attention so we can find a solution together. This may include breathing exercises, working through performance anxiety, releasing muscle tension, and creating healthy practice habits.
Encouraging curiosity and creativity is a central tenet of my teaching - I invite students to ask questions, explore various musical styles, and engage in improvisation. Practicing a positive attitude towards mistakes and challenges is crucial for growth; I encourage students to view their errors as opportunities for learning and improvement. Music should be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, and I strive to help students find what motivates them and sparks their interests; I firmly believe that enjoying the learning process is key to long-term success. By creating a nurturing and stimulating environment, I aim to help students enhance their musicality and artistic integrity while cultivating a lifelong passion for music.”
Biography
Olivia Katz is a joyful, engaging, and dynamic cellist with a passionate interest in contemporary classical music. Olivia strives to create an interactive, inventive, and accessible environment that encourages the audience to experience classical music, art, and beauty through a fresh lens. In addition to musicians and composers, Olivia collaborates with playwrights, singers, painters, actors, sculptors, and poets in multiple contexts and is dedicated to bringing artists’ visions to life. Currently in Boston, Olivia is the cellist in the Semiosis Quartet - a Boston-based string quartet dedicated to presenting a captivating and diverse contemporary classical repertoire.
In Summer 2024, the Semiosis Quartet participated in their sixth year of working as a resident string quartet in the High School Composer’s Intensive hosted at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In Spring 2024, Olivia graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Master of Contemporary Classical Music Performance. During their time at the Boston Conservatory, Olivia notably played in the contemporary classical ensemble contraBAND, BoCoCelli, and the Felix Quartet, collaborated with and performed alongside The Rhythm Method, and premiered Marti Epstein’s Guggenheim piece, "In Praise of Broken Clocks," with Sound Icon. Outside of Boston Conservatory, Olivia premiered eight works through New Music Mosaic, three works by doctoral composition students at Boston University, and Elsie Bae Han’s Act Natural~ as a soloist with string orchestra with the Horizons Ensemble. She had their graphic score premiered at the Swiss Institute by Duo Indigo.
In 2021, while living in Portland, Oregon, Olivia collaborated with and premiered Carmen Burbridge and Jack Aldisert’s UNEARTHED - a play in which they shared the stage and accompanied the actors with solo cello for the entirety of the show, which was composed by Jack Aldisert and Olivia themself. Additionally, at the University of Peugeot Sound, as part of their undergraduate degree recital, they collaborated with queer poets. They created six short and indeterminate solo cello works that corresponded to each poem. Olivia has composed several graphic and indeterminate works and is looking forward to continuing composition as an additional form of musical expression alongside cello performance.
Olivia received their Master’s degree under Rhonda Rider and David Russell, and their Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at the University of Puget Sound under Alistair MacRae. They have also studied with Sarah Brady, Kivie Cahn-Lipman, Diane Chaplin, Judith Eissenberg, Vimbayi Kaziboni, Mariel Roberts, Nancy Jo Snider, Brenda Villard, Alice Yoo, and Matthew Zalkind.
Between 2017 and 2023, Olivia attended the Cortona Sessions for New Music, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Brevard Music Center. In 2024, Olivia attended New Music on the Point, Harvard Chamber Music Festival, and Longy’s Divergent Studio.
Outside of cello performance, Olivia was chosen to speak on behalf of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee Music Department at the annual Named Scholars Tea, and enjoyed working as an ESL tutor during their time in graduate school. Olivia has been a camp counselor, a nanny, and has worked at a thrift store; they especially enjoy being in nature, seeing live music, and exploring museums and antique stores.
Olivia began teaching in 2014 and joined Note-worthy Experiences in July 2024.
