Olivia Cosío is an educator, vocalist, and co-founder of Sounds that Carry: Creative Impact Consultants, a firm that partners with arts & culture organizations to design impactful community programs that connect more deeply with audiences. Her innovative work at the intersection of arts, education, and community well-being has been featured by The Wallace Foundation Podcast, Psychology Today, and Opera Canada, and she’s spoken about creative placemaking at Berklee’s Career Jam, Juilliard’s Entrepreneurship Symposium, and the Chamber Music America National Conference.

Previously, Olivia served as Harvard’s Director of First-Year Arts Initiatives, leading campus-wide arts programming and contributing to the Harvard Art Museum’s inaugural Family Day.

A Juilliard-trained operatic mezzo-soprano praised by The Wall Street Journal as “a standout,” Olivia performed at venues including Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, Versaille’s Opéra Royal, London’s Holland Park, and Salzburg’s Großes Festspielhaus before focusing fully on education. A product of free and inclusive arts education herself, Olivia sustained a vibrant teaching artist practice throughout her time as a performer—laying the groundwork for her current full-time work in community-engaged arts.

She holds a Master of Education in Arts and Learning from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master of Music in Vocal Arts from The Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from The Oberlin Conservatory. Proudly from San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, Olivia draws inspiration from her community’s resilience and creativity, which continue to shape her commitment to making the arts more accessible, impactful, and joyful for all.