Teacher Profile: Olivia Heaner

About Olivia Heaner

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, soprano Olivia Heaner graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Vanderbilt University, where she studied with tenor Dr. Tyler Nelson. Before attending college, Ms. Heaner studied piano at the Colburn School of Performing Arts under the tutelage of Ms. Miji Kim and cello through the Los Angeles Unified School District orchestral program.

While attending Vanderbilt University, Ms. Heaner was a featured soloist in the Vanderbilt Chorale, and performed soprano solos in W.A Mozart’s Requiem, Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Serenade to Music, J.S. Bach’s Matthäus-Passion, and Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and also performed as a soloist on their debut album, Music in the Listening Place. Ms. Heaner also performed with Vanderbilt Opera Theater, covering the roles of Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) and The Old Lady (Candide), and performing in various opera scenes.

In 2018, Ms. Heaner placed first in the Southwest Regional NATS competition in the Junior Women category, and in 2019, third in the Senior Women category. She was the 1st place winner in the Tennessee MTNA Young Artist Competition and placed second in the MTNA Regionals Competition. At the end of the 2019 school year, Ms. Heaner was awarded the Delene Laubenheim McClure Memorial Award for Opera Excellence.

2017 saw Ms. Heaner traveling to England, participating in the Cornish-American Song Institute, a month-long program focused on the study and performance of art song. In that same summer, Ms. Heaner traveled to Belle-Ile en Mer, France, where she was a Young Artist in the Festival Lyrique de Belle Ile en Mer, performing in a scenes program, as a chorus member in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, and in collaboration with the island’s choir, performing Vivaldi’s Gloria, RV. 589 and Mozart’s Requiem. In 2018, Ms. Heaner traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, where she made her European debut in the role of Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), performing with Prague Summer Nights. Ms. Heaner returned to Prague in 2019, performing the role of Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) with Prague Summer Nights at the Estates Theater. In addition, Ms. Heaner was a member of the inaugural vocal class of Young Artists at the National Music Festival, where she had the opportunity to participate in an intensive two-week program that focused on artistry and technique, paying special attention to art song and collaboration.

Ms. Heaner has been a music teacher in the Houston area teaching piano, cello, and voice. She takes great care to cater to every student’s individual needs, and takes a holistic approach to lessons, tailoring lessons to fit students’ needs.

Ms. Heaner, or “Miss Olivia” to her students, believes that every child has the potential to be a great musician, and looks forward to unlocking said potential in each student.