/// BIOGRAPHY
SHORT
Oliver Cox is a composer and multi-instrumentalist.
He has performed all over the world, primarily with his percussion duo, O Duo, with whom career highlights include playing for the Last Night of the BBC Proms In The Park, as well as delivering the World Premiere of Stephen McNeff’s ConcertO Duo in the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s 80th Birthday Gala performance in the Barbican Hall, London. Oliver has also played in the ensemble of Disney’s The Lion King and in 2012 performed in the London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony alongside Dame Evelyn Glennie.
As a composer, his work has been performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and ensembles from City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He takes inspiration from the natural world, the intersection of consciousness and technology, and his meditation practice, where the quest for experiences of ‘more’ continue to power his creative path.
LONG
Oliver Cox is a composer and percussionist.
He has performed all over the world as both concerto soloist and chamber musician, primarily with his percussion duo, O Duo, which he co-founded in 2000 at the Royal College of Music, London.
O Duo had a huge impact on the UK music scene, performing three times at the BBC Proms, giving several recitals at the Wigmore Hall, starring as concerto soloists in the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s 80th Birthday celebration concert at the Barbican Hall in London, and broadcasting live on both national TV and Radio several times. In addition, they have released two critically acclaimed discs of percussion duo music and have given countless other performances around the globe.
‘The duo’s wonderful rapport, both with each other and with their audiences, together with their extraordinary virtuosity, versatility and physical prowess, adds up to a visual and artistic feast that is exhilarating and utterly irresistible’ (Oxford Mail)
Inspiring the next generation of musicians has always been high on Oliver’s agenda and he has been heavily involved in several music education programs over the years. From 2008 – 2018, Oliver was the co-artistic director of Children’s Classic Concerts (CCC), Scotland’s best loved series of family concerts, and during his 10 year tenure, the organisation went from strength to strength, diversifying their concert and workshop programme, expanding their reach across Scotland as well as forging a new and highly successful partnership with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In addition, Oliver has led workshops with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and many others.
He has held several teaching posts, most recently Visiting Professor of Percussion at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, specialising in Solo Performance, Chamber Music and Latin Percussion.
Oliver’s compositions and arrangements have featured in many of his performances with both O Duo and Children’s Classic Concerts. and in October 2018, he arranged his piece ‘We Can Fly’ for a large-scale, multi-media collaboration between CCC, the RSNO, the National Youth Choir of Scotland and Drake Music Scotland for two performances at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Usher Hall, Edinburgh.