Olivia Ajero, piano

Meet Oliva

Olivia Ajero (piano), 15, is from Nacogdoches, Texas. She started piano lessons with her father, Dr. Mario Ajero, and continues to study with Linda Parr and Dr. Minhae Lee at the Music Preparatory Division at Stephen F. Austin State University. She has won first prize in the Steinway & Sons Junior Piano Competition and second prize at the Young Artist Piano Competition at Texas State University.

Olivia was a winner of the Red River Radio Young Artist Competition and a finalist in the Texas Music Teachers Association Piano Performance Contest. She has earned First Class Honors with Distinction on her Level 9 Piano Exam with The Royal Conservatory and a Certificate of Excellence for earning the highest marks among all pianists in the South Central Region of the United States.

Olivia studied for three summers with Dr. Emiko Edwards at the Luzerne Music Center where she also won the junior concerto competition to perform with the LMC Orchestra. This past summer, she attended the Brevard Music Center where she studied with Michael Chertock and Jeremy Denk.  Olivia also has enjoyed playing chamber music with different musicians the past three summers at Luzerne. Back in Nacogdoches, she is a member of The Caddo Piano Trio with violinist Jonah Raychev and cellist Will Sams. They perform concerts regularly for the East Texas communities.

Outside of music, Olivia enjoys basketball, reading, and playing games with her brother Nio.

Her brother Nio has previously been featured on From the Top.