BIOGRAPHY

Updated Mar 2025

Olivia Hughart is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, advocate, and a graduate of New York University, with a major in Jazz Studies and a minor in Public Policy and Management. She is a gigging and recording musician with bands in New York City, Philadelphia, and beyond. Hughart is a member of the NYChillHarmonic, the Grace Fox Big Band, the Andrew Neu Big Band, and Triad Brass. In addition to leading her own ensembles, Hughart has performed with Aberdeen the Band, the Broadway Sinfonietta, New Heights Brass Band, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and is frequently called for off- Broadway productions. Hughart has attracted the attention of the press from various publications including Philly Magazine, Jersey Jazz Magazine, NPR Live Sessions, WRTI, NYU News, Cool Jazz Radio, WRTI, WHYY, and various podcasts. Hughart is a Presser Scholar, 2023 JEN Mary Jo Papich Women in Jazz Scholarship winner, 2020 Bruce Montgomery Foundation Springboard Grant Winner, and 2020 Pennsylvania Project Stream Grant winner.

​

Hughart is also the founder and artistic director of Key of She Jazz (keyofshejazz.org), which is an organization that supports and encourages girls and non-binary students in jazz starting in middle school and uniquely, builds an inclusive community of support of all genders and ages. In 2019, Hughart organized the first-ever Key of She Jazz Conference, celebrating women in jazz and attended by more than 200 students, educators, and musicians from Philadelphia and surrounding areas. During COVID, Key of She Jazz attracted a global audience through a variety of virtual events and continued to build a comprehensive resources list of over 500 women in jazz. Key of She Jazz continues to host virtual events to stay connected with an international audience as well as in-person events – including the annual Key of She Jazz Jam – which typically offer a livestreamed component. Hughart has also led numerous presentations regarding gender in jazz and mentorship and is a member of the Jazz Education Network.