Olivia Phaneuf (she/her) is a saxophonist, educator, and arts administrator based in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Saxophone at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music under the mentorship of Dr. Jan Berry Baker

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Olivia maintains an active performing career as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent highlights include serving as a Bang on a Can Performance Fellow at LOUD Weekend, appearing as a guest artist at the University of Arkansas, and performing with her saxophone quartet, Zuma. She has performed and taught at festivals and universities across the United States, including the International Saxophone Symposium, SHE: Festival of Women in Music, the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, and the TMEA Conference.

 

Curiosity and collaboration guide Olivia’s approach to performance. She’s drawn to music that tells stories and brings new voices forward, often featuring works by women, queer, and underrepresented composers. Through all of her performances, Olivia explores inclusive programming that sparks conversation and connection. She’s passionate about growing the saxophone repertoire through collaborations with living composers.

 

At UCLA, she serves as the Teaching Assistant for the Woodwind Area and Woodwind Chamber Music programs and as a Graduate Administrative Assistant with the Music Partnership Program Fellowship. As a Gluck Fellow, she contributes to community engaged outreach  initiatives, bringing music to audiences across Los Angeles County.

 

Teaching is at the heart of Olivia’s work. She maintains a private studio of middle and high school saxophonists and is dedicated to creating musical experiences that build confidence, creativity, and lifelong enjoyment. Her commitment to teaching was recognized in 2020 with the Catherine A. English Excellence in Music Teaching Award.

 

Olivia holds a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from The University of Texas at Austin and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Her primary teachers include Dr. Jan Berry Baker, Dr. Stephen C. Page and Dr. Casey Grev.

 

When she’s not performing or teaching, you can find her sipping a decaf oat milk latte, yapping with friends, obsessing over a Broadway musical, or debating whether it’s finally time to get a cat.