Feature, Current
Strings Attached: Harpist Olivia Shidler
Millburn High School junior Olivia Shidler makes her mark as an accomplished harpist and a dedicated community advocate.
By Eve Golden
Time management for Olivia Shidler means balancing her AP courses at Millburn High School with the rigorous demands of Juilliard Pre-College and preparing to solo with one of the nation’s premier ensembles. The high school junior and harpist recently achieved an impressive milestone that few teenage musicians dare to dream of—winning “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band Concerto Competition in Washington, D.C.
This April, Shidler will return to the stage to perform Claude Debussy’s “Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane” with the Marine Chamber Orchestra. Yet, despite the scale of the achievement, she views the opportunity through a lens of artistic maturity that is well beyond her years.
“My first thought went to my teacher, the one-and-only Nancy Allen,” she says. “She has taught me that a competition, like any performance, is an internal journey of discovery, and the result is secondary to how much you grow as a musician and as an artist.”
The evocative Debussy masterpiece she will perform holds a profound personal connection rooted in a childhood trip to France, where she stood on the famous Japanese bridge in Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny. “I tied that feeling to the Debussy piece,” Shidler says. “As the Japanese bridge came to mind in the first movement and the gardens in the second, I fell in love with it. Little by little, I became braver with the piece.”
Music in Motion
Shidler credits her foundation to her first teacher, Stacey Shames, and to the inspiration she draws from her peers at Juilliard. “Seeing the way they communicate their music on a weekly basis constantly inspires me to shape my own voice,” she explains.
She began developing her artistic edge on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, performing as an actor and singer in the Children’s Chorus from ages 6 to 12. “I understood what it meant to use time wisely, like doing homework in the car, which continues to serve me well with all my AP courses,” she says.
Her days remain a fluid mix of academics and artistry. “I’ll make sure to weave in my practice time whenever I can, even if it means doing it at 10 p.m. or getting up before school to do it,” she says.
Shidler’s dedication has paid dividends. Beyond winning the concerto competition, she has been selected for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The prestigious, all-expenses-paid program will have her touring Berlin, Amsterdam, and the United Kingdom. While the cultural exchange is a draw, she says she’s also “really excited to wear the amazing red pants all members of the group get to perform in.”
Shidler’s music isn’t reserved solely for international stages. She is deeply committed to the Millburn-Short Hills community, serving as the student representative for the District Wellness Committee. She launched “Harp for Wellness,” an initiative bringing the sounds of her instrument to the student center to help people de-stress. “It’s not just students who attend; teachers and administrators do, too,” she says. “I love that it’s building a wellness community.”
A survey at Washington School revealed that fifth graders ranked listening to the harp as their No. 1 social-emotional learning activity. “When I played for them, it was like they were ‘all in’—like they left all their cares behind,” she recalls.
Pulling Strings
By recognizing the educators who have shaped her path, Shidler emphasizes the importance of the Millburn school system’s music faculty. “Without Mr. Fabrizio and Mr. Vega’s incredible teaching, I would not have the same love of music theory that I do,” she says. “Mr. Fabrizio was my AP Music Theory teacher last year and has conducted ensembles I’ve been a part of at the high school, including the pit in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”
From a mesmerizing encounter with a harp at the South Orange Performing Arts Center at age 5 to the world stage today, Shidler’s journey is a family affair. She credits her grandmother’s inspiration, her mother’s constant presence, and her father’s logistical support in lugging the harp to her gigs. As she prepares for Europe and the Marine Chamber Orchestra, Shidler remains grounded in the community that has shaped her musical roots.
SIDEBAR
Olivia Shidler in Eight Beats
Here are some habits that contribute to the harpist’s success:
1. Consistency over perfection. Even if she can’t get in her preferred two full hours of practice, Shidler takes the hour she does have and uses it wisely.
2. Routine, routine, routine. Shidler’s practice routine is a system of consistency, focusing on small excerpts until the details lock in.
3. Performance prep. Shidler swears by the basics: eat, hydrate, and keep hand warmers on deck for over-air-conditioned halls.
4. A calm-down hack. Teachers, friends, and family keep her grounded—especially the preshow “break a leg” texts with fun emojis right before a performance.
5. The power of visualization. Right before she goes on stage, Shidler imagines her late grandfather—coffee in hand, smiling. Then, once she sits at the harp, her only focus is on the music.
6. A stage for everyone. Shidler founded MHSPAC, Millburn High School’s first online Performing Arts Center, to make arts coverage as accessible as literary magazines, STEM publications, and sports coverage.
7. Recognition culture. One of her proudest MHSPAC projects has been Senior Spotlight, giving graduating performers a long-overdue shout-out from their peers.
8. Larger than music. Shidler leads inclusion work as president of Millburn High School’s Unified Club; runs antibias initiatives through her synagogue; and still finds time for writing, traveling, baking, babysitting, and SAT tutoring.
Photograph courtesy of Olivia Shidler
Like this article? Share it with your friends!
Feature, Current
Strings Attached: Harpist Olivia Shidler
Millburn High School junior Olivia Shidler makes her mark as an accomplished harpist and a dedicated community advocate.
By Eve Golden
Like this article? Share it with your friends!
Time management for Olivia Shidler means balancing her AP courses at Millburn High School with the rigorous demands of Juilliard Pre-College and preparing to solo with one of the nation’s premier ensembles. The high school junior and harpist recently achieved an impressive milestone that few teenage musicians dare to dream of—winning “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band Concerto Competition in Washington, D.C.
This April, Shidler will return to the stage to perform Claude Debussy’s “Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane” with the Marine Chamber Orchestra. Yet, despite the scale of the achievement, she views the opportunity through a lens of artistic maturity that is well beyond her years.
“My first thought went to my teacher, the one-and-only Nancy Allen,” she says. “She has taught me that a competition, like any performance, is an internal journey of discovery, and the result is secondary to how much you grow as a musician and as an artist.”
The evocative Debussy masterpiece she will perform holds a profound personal connection rooted in a childhood trip to France, where she stood on the famous Japanese bridge in Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny. “I tied that feeling to the Debussy piece,” Shidler says. “As the Japanese bridge came to mind in the first movement and the gardens in the second, I fell in love with it. Little by little, I became braver with the piece.”
Music in Motion
Shidler credits her foundation to her first teacher, Stacey Shames, and to the inspiration she draws from her peers at Juilliard. “Seeing the way they communicate their music on a weekly basis constantly inspires me to shape my own voice,” she explains.
She began developing her artistic edge on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, performing as an actor and singer in the Children’s Chorus from ages 6 to 12. “I understood what it meant to use time wisely, like doing homework in the car, which continues to serve me well with all my AP courses,” she says.
Her days remain a fluid mix of academics and artistry. “I’ll make sure to weave in my practice time whenever I can, even if it means doing it at 10 p.m. or getting up before school to do it,” she says.
Shidler’s dedication has paid dividends. Beyond winning the concerto competition, she has been selected for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The prestigious, all-expenses-paid program will have her touring Berlin, Amsterdam, and the United Kingdom. While the cultural exchange is a draw, she says she’s also “really excited to wear the amazing red pants all members of the group get to perform in.”
Shidler’s music isn’t reserved solely for international stages. She is deeply committed to the Millburn-Short Hills community, serving as the student representative for the District Wellness Committee. She launched “Harp for Wellness,” an initiative bringing the sounds of her instrument to the student center to help people de-stress. “It’s not just students who attend; teachers and administrators do, too,” she says. “I love that it’s building a wellness community.”
A survey at Washington School revealed that fifth graders ranked listening to the harp as their No. 1 social-emotional learning activity. “When I played for them, it was like they were ‘all in’—like they left all their cares behind,” she recalls.
Pulling Strings
By recognizing the educators who have shaped her path, Shidler emphasizes the importance of the Millburn school system’s music faculty. “Without Mr. Fabrizio and Mr. Vega’s incredible teaching, I would not have the same love of music theory that I do,” she says. “Mr. Fabrizio was my AP Music Theory teacher last year and has conducted ensembles I’ve been a part of at the high school, including the pit in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”
From a mesmerizing encounter with a harp at the South Orange Performing Arts Center at age 5 to the world stage today, Shidler’s journey is a family affair. She credits her grandmother’s inspiration, her mother’s constant presence, and her father’s logistical support in lugging the harp to her gigs. As she prepares for Europe and the Marine Chamber Orchestra, Shidler remains grounded in the community that has shaped her musical roots.
SIDEBAR
Olivia Shidler in Eight Beats
Here are some habits that contribute to the harpist’s success:
1. Consistency over perfection. Even if she can’t get in her preferred two full hours of practice, Shidler takes the hour she does have and uses it wisely.
2. Routine, routine, routine. Shidler’s practice routine is a system of consistency, focusing on small excerpts until the details lock in.
3. Performance prep. Shidler swears by the basics: eat, hydrate, and keep hand warmers on deck for over-air-conditioned halls.
4. A calm-down hack. Teachers, friends, and family keep her grounded—especially the preshow “break a leg” texts with fun emojis right before a performance.
5. The power of visualization. Right before she goes on stage, Shidler imagines her late grandfather—coffee in hand, smiling. Then, once she sits at the harp, her only focus is on the music.
6. A stage for everyone. Shidler founded MHSPAC, Millburn High School’s first online Performing Arts Center, to make arts coverage as accessible as literary magazines, STEM publications, and sports coverage.
7. Recognition culture. One of her proudest MHSPAC projects has been Senior Spotlight, giving graduating performers a long-overdue shout-out from their peers.
8. Larger than music. Shidler leads inclusion work as president of Millburn High School’s Unified Club; runs antibias initiatives through her synagogue; and still finds time for writing, traveling, baking, babysitting, and SAT tutoring.
Photograph courtesy of Olivia Shidler
Time management for Olivia Shidler means balancing her AP courses at Millburn High School with the rigorous demands of Juilliard Pre-College and preparing to solo with one of the nation’s premier ensembles. The high school junior and harpist recently achieved an impressive milestone that few teenage musicians dare to dream of—winning “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band Concerto Competition in Washington, D.C.
This April, Shidler will return to the stage to perform Claude Debussy’s “Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane” with the Marine Chamber Orchestra. Yet, despite the scale of the achievement, she views the opportunity through a lens of artistic maturity that is well beyond her years.
“My first thought went to my teacher, the one-and-only Nancy Allen,” she says. “She has taught me that a competition, like any performance, is an internal journey of discovery, and the result is secondary to how much you grow as a musician and as an artist.”
The evocative Debussy masterpiece she will perform holds a profound personal connection rooted in a childhood trip to France, where she stood on the famous Japanese bridge in Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny. “I tied that feeling to the Debussy piece,” Shidler says. “As the Japanese bridge came to mind in the first movement and the gardens in the second, I fell in love with it. Little by little, I became braver with the piece.”
Music in Motion
Shidler credits her foundation to her first teacher, Stacey Shames, and to the inspiration she draws from her peers at Juilliard. “Seeing the way they communicate their music on a weekly basis constantly inspires me to shape my own voice,” she explains.
She began developing her artistic edge on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, performing as an actor and singer in the Children’s Chorus from ages 6 to 12. “I understood what it meant to use time wisely, like doing homework in the car, which continues to serve me well with all my AP courses,” she says.
Her days remain a fluid mix of academics and artistry. “I’ll make sure to weave in my practice time whenever I can, even if it means doing it at 10 p.m. or getting up before school to do it,” she says.
Shidler’s dedication has paid dividends. Beyond winning the concerto competition, she has been selected for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The prestigious, all-expenses-paid program will have her touring Berlin, Amsterdam, and the United Kingdom. While the cultural exchange is a draw, she says she’s also “really excited to wear the amazing red pants all members of the group get to perform in.”
Shidler’s music isn’t reserved solely for international stages. She is deeply committed to the Millburn-Short Hills community, serving as the student representative for the District Wellness Committee. She launched “Harp for Wellness,” an initiative bringing the sounds of her instrument to the student center to help people de-stress. “It’s not just students who attend; teachers and administrators do, too,” she says. “I love that it’s building a wellness community.”
A survey at Washington School revealed that fifth graders ranked listening to the harp as their No. 1 social-emotional learning activity. “When I played for them, it was like they were ‘all in’—like they left all their cares behind,” she recalls.
Pulling Strings
By recognizing the educators who have shaped her path, Shidler emphasizes the importance of the Millburn school system’s music faculty. “Without Mr. Fabrizio and Mr. Vega’s incredible teaching, I would not have the same love of music theory that I do,” she says. “Mr. Fabrizio was my AP Music Theory teacher last year and has conducted ensembles I’ve been a part of at the high school, including the pit in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”
From a mesmerizing encounter with a harp at the South Orange Performing Arts Center at age 5 to the world stage today, Shidler’s journey is a family affair. She credits her grandmother’s inspiration, her mother’s constant presence, and her father’s logistical support in lugging the harp to her gigs. As she prepares for Europe and the Marine Chamber Orchestra, Shidler remains grounded in the community that has shaped her musical roots.
SIDEBAR
Olivia Shidler in Eight Beats
Here are some habits that contribute to the harpist’s success:
1. Consistency over perfection. Even if she can’t get in her preferred two full hours of practice, Shidler takes the hour she does have and uses it wisely.
2. Routine, routine, routine. Shidler’s practice routine is a system of consistency, focusing on small excerpts until the details lock in.
3. Performance prep. Shidler swears by the basics: eat, hydrate, and keep hand warmers on deck for over-air-conditioned halls.
4. A calm-down hack. Teachers, friends, and family keep her grounded—especially the preshow “break a leg” texts with fun emojis right before a performance.
5. The power of visualization. Right before she goes on stage, Shidler imagines her late grandfather—coffee in hand, smiling. Then, once she sits at the harp, her only focus is on the music.
6. A stage for everyone. Shidler founded MHSPAC, Millburn High School’s first online Performing Arts Center, to make arts coverage as accessible as literary magazines, STEM publications, and sports coverage.
7. Recognition culture. One of her proudest MHSPAC projects has been Senior Spotlight, giving graduating performers a long-overdue shout-out from their peers.
8. Larger than music. Shidler leads inclusion work as president of Millburn High School’s Unified Club; runs antibias initiatives through her synagogue; and still finds time for writing, traveling, baking, babysitting, and SAT tutoring.
Photograph courtesy of Olivia Shidler