Join us for our final Sweet Jazz concert of 2025 with a special evening of Women in Jazz with special guest Olivia Van Goor, curated by our Sweet Jazz coordinator Paul Thompson.
When: Friday, July 18th
Venue opens: 6 p.m., music 7-9 p.m.
Where: Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Community Room
Olivia Van Goor is a jazz vocalist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator in Southeast Michigan.
Olivia Van Goor is a Detroit-based jazz vocalist, band leader, arranger, and composer. She has built a reputation for not only being an excellent vocalist, but a creative force to be reckoned with. Her hard work has yielded two EPs, first “When the Shadows Fall” in 2021 and the second being “Don’t Be Mad At Me” in August of 2023. These recordings have taken her to tour in surrounding major cities such as Ann Arbor, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Southbend, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. Additionally, she received “Best Vocalist” for the Preservation of Jazz Excellence Award in Detroit, nominations by the Detroit Music Awards and recognition by many Michigan-based publications. Beyond recording, she has produced the show “Duets” with vocalist/bassist Reuben Stump exploring the history of vocal jazz duets and some of her own arrangements as well as an “Anita O’Day Tribute” in which she pays tribute to the legendary vocalist Anita O’Day. She has worked with musicians like Detroit pianist Scott Gwinnell, 2-time JUNO award winning vocalist Caity Gyorgy, and prolific Ann Arbor string bassist Paul Keller. Olivia continues to collaborate with many Michigan leaders in jazz in addition to surrounding midwest musicians to spread musical joy.
Olivia moved to Southeast Michigan in the winter of 2017 with her family, and fell in love with the Detroit music scene. She has performed at historic Detroit clubs such as Cliff Bell’s and Aretha’s Jazz Cafe at Music Hall, along with the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor. Rich with history and phenomenal world-class musicians, she has found a home where she continues to progress her craft.
Raised in Hudson, OH, Olivia learned how to play piano, sing in choirs, and eventually how to perform as a soloist. The love for music grew as she explored different avenues: choir, rock bands, and musical theatre. However, one outlet stood out against them all: jazz. In 2019, Olivia graduated from Denison University in Granville, OH with a bachelor’s degree in music & economics. She used that time to explore voice as her main instrument, learning from Dr. Stephanie Henkle and Dr. Carolyn Redman. She sang in the jazz ensembles under the instruction of saxophonist Pete Mills, and interned at Jazz Arts Group Columbus.
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