Olivia M. Leake is an oboist from the Washington, D.C. area whose work spans orchestral performance, chamber music, and community engagement. Most recently, she participated in the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, where she performed in a wind quintet alongside fellow emerging artists, premiered a work by an emerging composer, and collaborated with internationally recognized chamber musicians. As an orchestral musician, she has performed with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. She was the winner of the 2025 University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music’s annual Chamber Music Competition, performing Francis Poulenc’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, & Piano. Olivia has also performed as a guest soloist for the National Endowment for the Arts and was the winner of the DC Youth Orchestra Competition, performing Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in C Minor with the DC Youth Orchestra. She is an alumna of the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship Program.

Olivia remains an active orchestral and chamber musician, regularly performing in orchestras and chamber groups. She has participated in festivals including the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, Hidden Valley Oboe Seminar, the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and Interlochen Arts Academy. Beyond the stage, Olivia is dedicated to exploring the role of music in education and community engagement through educational outreach, interdisciplinary collaboration, and programming that expands access to classical music while championing works by women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented composers.

Olivia holds a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from the University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music, where she was a full scholarship recipient. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she received the Jennette Davis, Donna & Jean Creek, and Premiere Young Artist Scholarship Awards. She is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work in Macro Practice at Boston University (Online) with the goal of expanding access to the arts and using music as a catalyst for community engagement, advocacy, and social change. Her principal teachers include Mekhi Gladden, Dwight Parry, Titus Underwood, Linda Strommen, and Jamie Roberts.