Olivia Adams

Pianist, educator, researcher

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Contact – oamusicstudios@gmail.com

Bio

Olivia Adams is a pianist, researcher, and music educator. She serves as the Director of Education at the Lotus Centre for Special Music Education, a music school dedicated to supporting musicians in the neurodivergent and disabled communities in Ottawa, ON. Olivia is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Ottawa, under Dr. Erin Parkes, where she researches accommodations in music performances for neurodivergent pianists. Her research has earned numerous federal, provincial, and university awards, including the prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship. She has presented her work at academic conferences across Canada, the United States, Finland, and Portugal. 

Olivia holds an MA in Music and Feminist Studies from the University of Ottawa and an Honours B.Mus. in Piano Performance from Western University. She published a portion of her master’s research in Loud and Clear: A Guide to Levelled Piano Music by Women Composers in the 20th and 21st Centuries, released by Debra Wanless Music. The guide is widely used by music festivals and conservatories across the country. Olivia also organizes Ottawa’s Music by Women Marathon, a day of music-making dedicated to playing compositions by women, with proceeds benefiting women’s shelters in Ottawa. Artistic advocacy has always been central to her work.

When she is not working and researching, Olivia can be found playing the piano, singing in choirs, baking, and exploring the National Capital Region trails with her partner, Nick, and their dog Nori.

List of Works

None of my pieces are currently published.

My book Loud and Clear can be found here. Published with Debra Wanless Music.