Biography
Olivia Leake, a native of the Washington, DC Metro Area, is an aspiring professional musician and activist. Currently, she is a senior at Indiana University, studying Oboe Performance with Linda Strommen at the Jacobs School of Music and minoring in gender studies. Leake is recipient of the Jennette Davis Scholarship Award, the Donna and Jean Creek Scholarship Award, and the Premiere Young Artist Scholarship Award.
Prior to Indiana University, Leake studied with Jamie Roberts. Leake was the Principal Oboist and English Hornist of the DC Youth Orchestra and the Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras. Leake participated in a tour to Chile and Italy with the DC Youth Orchestra. She has been invited to many summer programs, including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, Interlochen Summer Music Program, and more. Furthermore, Leake was a guest soloist for the annual meeting for the National Endowment for the Arts, and was the winner of the 2019 DC Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, which gave her the privilege to play the Marcello Oboe Concerto with the DC Youth Orchestra as a featured soloist.
Leake was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship Program during the 2018-2019 year. Additionally, Leake has participated in activities such as NSO Side by Sides, playing under Gustavo Dudamel, playing at the Argentinian Embassy, and more. Leake also participated in an online masterclass with Mary Lynch, hosted by ReedDesign. Leake has worked with many professionals, including John Ferrillo, Elaine Douvas, Mary Lynch, Titus Underwood, Anne Gabriele, and more.
Including her musical achievements, Leake has an interest in activism. She is the President/Creator of the Indiana University Chapter of Students Demand Action. Additionally, she is a part of the Students Demand Action National Chapter, the National Text Team, and the National Training Team. Leake is an intern for TurnUp Activism, a group that inspires young people to vote. Lastly, Leake is the Professional Development Chair for the Indiana University Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma. When Leake is not practicing, making reeds, or working on activism work, she loves to explore with makeup and fashion, watch TV, event plan, and