“The Olson/De Cari Duo straddle science and art gloriously.”
The Olson/De Cari Duo, the husband-and-wife collaboration of soprano Gioia De Cari and guitarist John Olson, has been dedicated to expanding the repertoire and artistic possibilities of the guitar/voice ensemble for over twenty years. Known for their innovative programming and compelling artistry, the Duo is committed to commissioning and performing new music.
Their expansive repertoire includes works by leading composers such as David Leisner, Benjamin Verdery, Frederic Hand, João Luiz, Frank Wallace, Thomas Flippin, Clarice Assad, and Andrew York. A hallmark of their work is their Science/Music Commissioning Project, which explores the intersection of science and the arts, celebrating the science-informed worldview and illuminating the human side of science through song. As Science Friday noted, “The Olson/De Cari Duo straddle science and art gloriously.”
Concert presentations include the Long Island Guitar Festival, the New York City Classical Guitar Society, and the Boston Classical Guitar Society, among others. The Duo has released two albums, Quiet Songs and Eve’s Diary. In response to the challenges of live performance during the pandemic, they pioneered a distinctive approach to classical music videography, creating a narrative-style video series that brings a fresh perspective to the presentation of the music.
“De Cari . . . let her crystalline voice burst out in sumptuous song.”
The Duo’s unique approach draws on the hybrid nature of Gioia and John’s backgrounds and expertise. Gioia De Cari is an award-winning writer, actor and singer and a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, Actors’ Equity, and the Dramatists Guild of America. She holds a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Gioia’s critically-acclaimed play Truth Values, on themes of belonging for women in the male-dominated world of mathematics and science, has been presented at more than 50 venues across the United States, including the La Jolla Playhouse, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, and Ensemble Studio Theatre.
John Olson has performed with a variety of New York–based ensembles, including the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet and Nylon Wound. He served for 17 years as President of the New York City Classical Guitar Society, revitalizing the organization and making it a thriving and central part of the city’s guitar community. He served as a member of the Guitar Foundation of America Board of Directors, and directed the Ben Verdery Maui Master Class for 11 years. He received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.