Horn
Canadian-Portuguese horn player Olivia Esther has been praised for “playing with fearless conviction” (Winnipeg Free Press). A versatile performer, recording artist, producer, composer, educator, and arts advocate, Esther has built a dynamic career spanning classical, jazz, and contemporary music. She has performed with many of Canada’s leading arts organizations and ensembles, including the Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Festival of the Sound, Toronto Jazz Festival, and Mirvish Productions. Her extensive performance career has also brought her to the stage alongside internationally acclaimed artists ranging from Adele and Barbra Streisand to Herbie Hancock.
A passionate champion of new music, Esther is dedicated to expanding and reimagining the role of the French horn in contemporary performance through commissioning, producing, recording, and performing the works of Canadian composers. Her artistic initiatives include an ongoing collaboration with composer David Jaeger, the founding of Canadian Horn Sound, a horn ensemble devoted to the creation and performance of Canadian repertoire, and the creation of Sonic Horn Revolution, a community-based horn collective that brings together amateur and professional musicians. Through these projects, Esther continues to forge new pathways for the French horn, connecting diverse audiences to innovative and genre-defying musical experiences.
Esther is also the founder and artistic leader of Oná Ensemble, a chamber jazz group that bridges Brazilian, Latin, jazz, and classical influences. Under her leadership, the ensemble has released two critically acclaimed EPs: one featuring celebrated Brazilian guitarist and composer Filo Machado, and another showcasing original compositions by Oná guitarist André Valério. Dubbed “A bold new voice in chamber jazz” by the Latin Jazz Network, Oná has garnered a loyal following both in Brazil and Canada over the past 3 years.
Community engagement and music education have remained central to Esther’s work throughout her career. Long before the now-established Sistema NB, Olivia founded the non-profit organization Viva Arts, where she developed innovative programs that create meaningful access to music education for young people and underserved communities in New Brunswick. Her leadership has grown to support successful grant initiatives, such as Upbeat! Downtown in Peterborough, ON to artist residencies, educational programming, and community music projects across Canada. Since 2016, she has served on the brass faculty of The Royal Conservatory of Music, mentoring the next generation of musicians while continuing to create impactful artistic opportunities through performance, education, and collaboration.
Esther also proudly serves as the Symphonic Services Business Representative for the Toronto Musicians’ Association, where she advocates for professional musicians and supports the growth, sustainability, and equitable working conditions for musicians working in Canada’s freelance and orchestral sector.
A graduate of Acadia University and an alumna of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Esther’s career reflects an unwavering commitment to artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship, community building, and the advancement of Canadian music. Through her work as a performer, producer, educator, arts leader, and advocate, she continues to expand the possibilities of the French horn while fostering meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and communities across the country.