Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Olivia Kieffer (b. 1980) — Waiting for the Music to Start (2026) for toy piano (or piano)
Carson Cooman, toy piano
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)
Toy piano by Michelsonne
49-key; C3–C7; wooden hammers
Olivia Kieffer (b. 1980) — Waiting for the Music to Start (2026) for toy piano (or piano)
Carson Cooman, toy piano
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)
Toy piano by Michelsonne
49-key; C3–C7; wooden hammers
