Olivia Vargas is a Detroit native who found her way to Grand Rapids through Aquinas College. Vargas has been singing, playing piano, and writing music for most of her life and has had the opportunity to utilize these talents in many different ways.

 

While at her time at Aquinas, Olivia studied with an emphasis in voice and secondary instruments of piano and organ. Olivia graduated with a Bachelors of Music in Liturgical Music in 2018 after completing an internship with Jane VanHouten at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Grand Rapids, MI. She has had the opportunity to study with professionals such as Barbara McCargar, Kathy Gibson, Giuseppe Lupis, Larry Biser and recently world renowned pianist Aaron Parks.

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Olivia has had the opportunity to perform frequently around West Michigan and beyond. From being a winner of AQ Idol to a three-time nominee for Outstanding Aquinas Student, Olivia has received many notable awards. Olivia is a two-time honors recital recipient as well as the 2018 Concerto Winner. She was named the Outstanding Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Graduating Senior Music Student and was the runner up of the NATS Musical Theater competition of 2017 (advanced category).

 

Through the later part of her college career, Olivia began to create connections in the West Michigan Music Scene and started playing in local bands. As the keyboard player of the band Conrad Shock + the Noise, she has had the opportunity to play in countless venues stretching from West Michigan to New York City. The band won the 2016 WYCE Emerging Artist of the Year and put out their second album in the fall of 2019. 

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Olivia also formed her own band, August, during her time at Aquinas. August released their debut album, Bloom, in 2019 earning them two nominations for the WYCE Jammy Awards in February of 2020. August released an EP titled Chaos & Comfort in July of 2020 and reached the Local Spins Hot Top 5 on WYCE 88.1 FM in August of 2020. The band has since released their sophomore album, Through the Looking Glass, which has also earned them multiple Jammy nominations. Find out more about August here.

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Olivia also released a solo EP called "Songs From My Room" in April of 2020 that was featured on the radio for GR Live and on a video series from the team at Great Lakes Live. She performs solo in many singer-songwriter events in the area as songwriting has always been the center of her love for music. She has also had the opportunity to perform as a trio and quartet with Folias duo, a flute and guitar duo from Grand Rapids, MI and Michael Pierce, a local classical guitarist. The group has played in libraries and colleges across West Michigan, performing original compositions with classical and latin influences. Olivia has also frequently performed with other local artists such as Austin Benzing (country), Patty Pershayla (rock), Evelyine (R&B), Marsfade (electronic/indie), Audrey Pearson (indie), LVNDR (pop), and more.

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Outside of performing, Olivia has given piano and voice lessons for over eight years. She has been an instructor at many places around Grand Rapids including Southtown Guitar and Triumph Music Academy as well as taught private lessons both in person and virtually. Olivia recently opened her own private lessons studio: Olivia Vargas Music Studio, a private lessons studio that has both in person and virtual lessons for all ages and skill levels.