Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Olivia Kieffer (b. 1980) — Axel’s Bongos (2017) for organ
Carson Cooman, organ
(for Amanda Schoofs; originally for toy piano, from the collection “Playing the Changes”; each piece was dedicated to a different friend of the composer, and their whimsical titles refer to shared memories between the composer and the dedicatees.)
Olivia Kieffer (b. 1980) is a composer, percussionist, and educator who creates energetic, life-affirming music that blends fantasy and reality. From adventures with toy pianos and slide whistles, to scores for traditional ensembles large and small, her work embraces the ecstatic, the silly, and the heartfelt—seeking to bring joy to uncertain places. Educated at the University of Miami (DMA in Composition), the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Georgia State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she has held faculty positions at Grand Valley State University and Reinhardt University. As a percussionist at home in both classical and rock worlds, Olivia is a member of smol ensemble, and was previously a member of the Chix with Stix Percussion Group and the bandleader/drummer for Clibber Jones Ensemble. (oliviakieffer.com)
(Photo by Brad/Minim Design Co. on Unsplash)
Olivia Kieffer (b. 1980) — Axel’s Bongos (2017) for organ
Carson Cooman, organ
(for Amanda Schoofs; originally for toy piano, from the collection “Playing the Changes”; each piece was dedicated to a different friend of the composer, and their whimsical titles refer to shared memories between the composer and the dedicatees.)
Olivia Kieffer (b. 1980) is a composer, percussionist, and educator who creates energetic, life-affirming music that blends fantasy and reality. From adventures with toy pianos and slide whistles, to scores for traditional ensembles large and small, her work embraces the ecstatic, the silly, and the heartfelt—seeking to bring joy to uncertain places. Educated at the University of Miami (DMA in Composition), the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Georgia State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she has held faculty positions at Grand Valley State University and Reinhardt University. As a percussionist at home in both classical and rock worlds, Olivia is a member of smol ensemble, and was previously a member of the Chix with Stix Percussion Group and the bandleader/drummer for Clibber Jones Ensemble. (oliviakieffer.com)
(Photo by Brad/Minim Design Co. on Unsplash)
