A Deeply Appalachian Family History

Olivia Perske grew up in North Central West Virginia, specifically in Harrison County, with roots stretching back across the globe and deep into state history. Her father’s family consisted of Italian and Austrian immigrants, while her mother’s family has lived in West Virginia since before the American Revolution. This mix of backgrounds gives her what she calls a very Appalachian story to tell. Though neither of her parents were musicians, her grandmother encouraged her singing by sharing old songs from the 1800s. These formative years singing on the porch swing laid the foundation for her life as a performer.

“My mom’s folks haven’t been in West Virginia since before the American Revolution and my dad’s grandparents coming from Italy and so very different sorts of upbringing that I think leads to me having a very Appalachian story to tell.”

Changing Tracks from Opera to Education

Perske originally planned to move out of state to study opera at the master’s degree level, but the 2020 pandemic completely changed her life path. Instead of moving to a costly city during a lockdown, she took a teaching job in Elkins, West Virginia, where she now teaches music to kindergarten through fifth grade students. She has become a vital part of the local community through her work with the Augusta Heritage Center, an organization that has promoted traditional music for over 50 years. Today, she leads the “Voices of Augusta” children’s choir and hosts community singing events featuring labor and coal songs. For Olivia, teaching music is about more than just notes; it is about building community and fostering self-confidence in her students.

“Music fires the synapses across both sides and so it is magic for memory, it’s magic for self-confidence, it’s magic for building community.”

Finding Liberation in Traditional Ballads

Despite her classical training, Olivia has embraced the gritty world of traditional Appalachian murder ballads and story songs. She finds that these old songs, which often tell tragic stories of grief and resilience, served as a form of liberation and entertainment long before social media existed. For Perske, singing these songs is about connecting with people across generations and backgrounds, learning from their stories, and finding commonalities. She believes that music is a universal language that allows people to communicate even when they come from completely different environments. Ultimately, she views her role as a musician and educator as a way to keep regional cultures alive and provide a space for unbridled joy.

“I’ve seen lots of parallels with the way that music functioned in Appalachia for a long time especially in terms of creating a form of liberation for the people that lived here.”

Ready to hear Olivia’s incredible voice and haunting ballads for yourself? You will want to catch the full video to see her powerful performance and hear the rest of her fascinating story.