About
Olivia Spyrou is a passionate young violist, born and raised in Melbourne. They have recently graduated from a Bachelor of Music degree at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University (QCGU), where they have been under the tutelage of Assoc. Professor Michele Walsh for 3 years.
As a soloist in 2024, Olivia won the John Curro Viola Prize and went on to perform York Bowen’s Viola Concerto in C minor in QCGU’s Concerto Festival (2025). As a passionate chamber player, they have performed with a wide variety of ensembles, including chamber music side-by-sides with Cuarteto Quiroga and the LA Philharmonic Wind Quintet. Later in 2024, Olivia was awarded the Ross Peters 4MBS Chamber Prize. And in 2026, they will travel to Canada with their trio to perform at the Musical Chairs Chamber Music Festival in Montreal.
Olivia has always felt a deep passion for orchestral performance. Their orchestral journey began back in 2019 with the Australian Youth Orchestra. This year marks Olivia’s eighth year with AYO and first year as principal viola of the flagship orchestra. In early 2026, Olivia looks forward to performing in the Sydney Symphony fellowship through AYO’S Professional Immersion program.
Most notably this year, Olivia will perform as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s newest viola academist for 2026.
Photographer: Claudio Raschella
