Having met while studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, it was our love of a vast array of musical genres that initially brought us together in order to play a piece inspired by Middle-Eastern folk music. Since then we have gone on to collaborate with composers on new commissions, as well as to write and arrange for the group ourselves, creating our unique, lyrical and exploratory voice along the way.
As a trio, we fundamentally believe in the social power of music, and thus we are proud to be Live Music Now musicians. Read more about the fantastic work LMN do here, and The Olive Collective’s page can be seen here.
Megan Rushbrook
Megan has studied both jazz and classical piano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Huw Warren and Michael Young respectively. While studying she has also worked with prominent pianists such as Gwilym Simcock, Charles Owen and Llyr Williams, and in 2022 she was awarded the Gilbert Prize for Piano Performance.
Megan has an interest in a great variety of music and loves to incorporate different styles, from Debussy to Dave Brubeck, and enjoys using improvisation in her performances. A diverse musician, Megan has performed in classical solo and chamber recitals, in a six-piece band at the Brecon Jazz Festival, and also has experience playing for musical theatre. She believes passionately in the power of live music and in giving everyone the opportunity to experience it. As such, Megan enjoys leading creative music workshops.
Ella Pearson
Ella is in their second year of the MMus Music Performance course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Under the expertise of Steven Hudson, Lucie Sprague and Patrick Flanaghan, they are studying the cor anglais with the oboe as a secondary instrument. Ella has played with a variety of orchestras and ensembles, including Ignite Symphony Orchestra and RWCMD Symphony Orchestra, and has passions lying in jazz and contemporary music.
Ella is also a music and mental health advocate; they have had writing featured by Anthem Wales and their music and mental health podcast, ‘Don’t Mind the Music’, is due to be released in 2022.
Recently, Ella was commended in the Crowthers of Canterbury Oboe Prize – adjudicated by Armand Djikoloum – where they performed the self-composed piece ‘Awakening at Gokyo Ri’ for oboe, percussion and electronics, which they wrote in 2021.
Alex Carey
Alex studied classical cello at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating in 2023. Alex enjoys working in the intimate setting of chamber groups, and has experienced playing in several different ensembles throughout his studies. With a diverse interest in musical styles from Baroque and classical to modern contemporary, Alex has strong musical influences from Truls Mörk and Yo-yo Ma.