Olivia Yelim Cho, Violoncello

Hailed as one of CBC Music’s “30 hot classical musicians under 30,” Korean-Canadian cellist Olivia Yelim Cho is praised for her “ravishing tone and organically felt phrasing… sincerity, wonderful taste, and a mature aplomb beyond her years” (ARTSFILE).

In 2020, Ms. Cho débuted with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Shelley. She received the Award of Excellence at the 2022 and 2021 National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Isabel Overton Bader Award at the 2020 Bader & Overton Canadian Cello Competition, and the Orford Award at the 2016 OSM Manulife Competition. Ms. Cho attended the Aspen Music Festival & School on fellowship in 2019 and in 2017 through the Emerging Artist Grant from the Vancouver Academy of Music.

Passionate about musical outreach, Ms. Cho worked with her sister in 2020 to organize a socially-distanced and online benefit concert titled con moto to raise funds for local groups supporting Black & Indigenous Lives. Ms. Cho also enjoys performing at senior homes, hospitals, and churches, as well as working with younger musicians.

Ms. Cho is currently pursuing her M.M. with Clive Greensmith at The Colburn Conservatory. She completed her B.M. and German minor at the University of Michigan with highest honors studying with Richard Aaron, and formerly studied with Joseph Elworthy at the Vancouver Academy of Music.