Olivia Kowalik is a violinist from Sydney and is a recent graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she completed her Bachelor of Music Performance degree studying with Janet Davies.
Olivia was born into a musical family and started learning violin with her father George Kowalik from the age of four. She always knew that music was the path that she wanted to take. Growing up in such a musical household, she aims to follow the footsteps of her older brothers who are in one of Australia’s leading ensembles the Orava Quartet.
Olivia’s passion grew especially in orchestral playing. She was in the Sydney Youth Orchestra from 2018-2022 and was concertmaster in the Flagship Orchestra in 2022. She has held principal and associate positions in the Australian Youth Orchestra, Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, and L’Estro Armonico String Orchestra, and has recently played with Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra and Ensemble Apex.
Olivia has performed as a guest soloist with Wollongong Steel City Strings for winning the Wollongong Eisteddfod concerto category. She was also scheduled to play as a guest soloist with Penrith Symphony Orchestra after winning the Sydney Conservatorium High School concerto competition in 2019, which unfortunately could not go ahead due to Covid-19.
Olivia’s recent interests in repertoire have been with early 20th century music ranging from French impressionism to mid-century Russian music. She also enjoys listening to and playing works by Polish composers, such as Szymanowski and Lutosławski, as a tribute to her Polish heritage. Other than playing the violin, Olivia loves to paint and to draw.
Olivia looks forward to commencing her studies at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2024 where she will be studying with Adam Chalabi.
Olivia is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Geoff and Margaret Stewart, Rosalind Price and Jeanne McMullin.
Photo by Pia Johnson