For string quartet, 

Rocky Ridge Music Center, 2022

This piece was composed for David Rife, Wynne Wong Rife, Rebecca McKee, and Mary Beth Tyndall at the Rocky Ridge Music Center’s Music in the Mountains program, July 2022. RRMC residents know that each cabin is named after various birds. This piece will be an ongoing collection of folk song plays on various bird stories, calls, and folk songs about birds throughout the United States, namely those in Bloomington, Tucson, and Longs Peak. Special thank you to Kendall Kroesen and his knowledge of birds.

"Overwinterers," performed by Rocky Ridge Music Camp faculty members: David Rife and Wynne-Wong Rife on violin, Rebecca McKee on viola, and Mary Beth Tyndall on cello.

"Illuminating Apologues," commissioned by The Amity Trio: Soprano, French Horn, and Piano, 2021

To be performed March 25th, in Brown County, IN and March 28th at Fairview Elementary School.

"White Sand and Gray Sand," commissioned by Sara Fraker for oboe and piano, 2020

"In her new work for oboe and piano, White Sand and Grey Sand, Olivo uses similar melodic devices, along with intricate rhythmic play and multiphonics, to create a rich soundscape that is emotional yet thoroughly modern."

-Sara Fraker, University of Arizona

As co-author of "Stone Country," I am pleased that the limestone of southern Indiana--and a few words from my text--helped to inspire this beautiful, haunting composition by Maggie Olivo.

-Scott Russell Sanders, author of "Stone Country"

Performed and recorded by Chris Chance on clarinet and Carl Butler on flute, inspired by the Viennese Krampus/St. Nikolo traditions.

Ama' (2018)

"Ama'" commissioned by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks Series. [midi excerpt]

"Olivo's orchestral piece, Amá, reveals skillful and imaginative deconstructions of folk tunes, evocative of Bartók's techniques."

-Sara Fraker, oboist in Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Commissioned by the Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization and made possible by the Bloomington Recover Forward grant, "Circles" depicts the cyclical nature of life cycles. The piece was largely inspired by the Brood X cicadas of 2021 and was customized specifically for the Bridges Youth Ensemble, representing varied skills and experience. 

A musical soundtrack to Ashley Wolff's, "Baby Bear See Blue," simple string parts perform together to illustrate Baby Bear's first colors. Music performed by Nathan Greenwood (violin), Lexi (viola), and Lauren Gruber (cello). Colors performed: blue (Morganne Aaberg), brown (Maggie Polk Olivo), red (Mallory Carnes), orange (Michele Barabas), and gray (Esteban Hernandez). Mama Bear's voice is Maggie Polk Olivo and Baby Bear's voice is Aralyn Olivo. Video editing by Nathan Greenwood. Created for the IU Jacobs School of Music's Fairview Violin Project.  Book used with permission by both the publisher and Ashley Wolff.

An arrangement of the Rocky Ridge camp song, performed by the Southwest String Quartet and members of the Rocky Ridge Junior Program faculty: David Rife (violin), Wynne Wong-Rife (violin), Mary Beth Tyndall (cello), and Rebecca McKee (viola).