| Biography | Born in 1981 into a musical family, Olivers interest in music began at the age of seven as a choir boy at Brecon Cathedral and subsequently as a choral and music scholar at Hereford Cathedral School.
In 1995, Oliver was awarded a DfEE government scholarship to study at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset (one of the UKs four specialist music schools) where he studied bassoon, cello and piano. In 1999, he won a scholarship to attend the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studied bassoon with David Chatwin (principal bassoon, BBC Philharmonic) and graduated in 2003 with a BMus (Hons) degree in performance. He then won a scholarship to continue his studies at the Royal College of Music in 2004, studying with Martin Gatt.
Oliver has had success in a number of music competitions over the years. He was the winner of the Texaco Young Musician of Wales competition in 1999, which resulted in appearances as concerto soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at St. Davids Hall, Cardiff, during the Welsh Proms 2000 season, and at the Royal Albert Hall, as part of the 2001 Festival of Massed Male Voice Choirs. In 2000 Oliver was a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition and also reached the national semi-finals of the 2001 Shell-LSO Woodwind competition.
Oliver has made several solo appearances on radio and television, including broadcasts on Classic FM and BBC Radio Wales, and in programmes on ITV Wales and S4C. With his former wind quintet Fifth Element, he gave the world premier of Michael Berkleys Catch me if you can in a live Radio 3 broadcast at the 2003 BBC Proms chamber series. He has also been involved in many educational outreach projects, working with children and vunerable adults.
Professionally, Oliver has worked with a number of British orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bath Sinfonietta and Northern Chamber Orchestra. He is also the former principal bassoonist of the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. With these ensembles and as a soloist, Oliver has performed in many prestigious venues around the country including the Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Rooms, Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall and St. Davids Hall. He has also toured extensively throughout Europe and the USA.
In addition to freelancing and teaching bassoon, Oliver a founding member of the Mid Wales Chamber |