Olivia Nixon

Olivia Nixon is currently studying Music Education at West Virginia University. At WVU she studies under renowned bass trombonist, Hakeem Bilal. She has been a member of several notable collegiate ensembles including WVU’s Jazz Ensemble I, Wind Symphony, and several chamber ensembles. Her performing experiences extend beyond the collegiate and into the professional realm. She is a regular substitute for the River City Brass Band and currently is the Bass Trombonist for the Washington Jazz Orchestra. Olivia made her soloist debut in May of 2023 at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh, PA alongside a broadcast on WQED with the River City Brass Band. When she is not making appearances with these ensembles she frequently plays with groups around the Pittsburgh, PA and Morgantown, WV areas. Some performances include with orchestral pits, providing sacred music at church services and doing cocktail hour appearances. Additionally, Olivia has been a proud recipient of a plethora of awards such as the WVU College of Creative Arts Scholarship, WVU Scholarship of Distinction, Jill Shook Future Music Educator Scholarship, James Falvo Music Education Scholarship, Eric Domanico Foundation Scholarship, PMEA District I Band Scholarship, and the Twin Coaches Jr. Stage Band Soloist Scholarship.

Not only is Olivia a sought-after performer but as an educator as well. In the summer of 2022, she was a teacher at Mt. Lebanon Summer Extended Day Program. There she helped foster the musical growth of students with line-dancing, bucket drumming, instrumental methods, and choral methods. Olivia took inspiration for this position through her experience as a brass instructor at North Strabane Intermediate School and Cecil Intermediate School's summer band camps. In her spare time, she is a private instrumental instructor for trombone, euphonium, tuba, trumpet, and beginner piano. There she individually caters to each students’ personal goals and needs to strengthen their skills as a musician. As both and educator and performer Olivia hopes to spread her love of music with those around her and make them smile.