Key of She Jazz was founded in 2012 by Olivia Hughart and a friend who noticed they were among the only female players in their middle school jazz big band, despite nearly equal numbers of girls and guys in band and orchestra. With the help of their director (Dr. Neff!), they brought together girls in jazz throughout their district, built connections, and inspired the younger girls to keep playing. In high school, Key of She continued to grow, including girls from across the district. As a high school senior, Olivia expanded her vision and held an amazing live Key of She Jazz conference in April 2019 that featured phenomenal women in jazz, performers, panelists, and speakers and was attended by more than 200 girls and their bandmates, band directors and educators, parents, and supporters.

She is a Women in Jazz Organization (WIJO) mentee and performed in the WIJO virtual big band’s release of “Alone Together” in 2020. She was also a feature artist on WRTI Philadelphia/NPR Music Live Sessions. Most recently, she has been playing with the NYChillharmonic and Aberdeen in New York City, and is writing and rehearsing her own band and original music.