Oliver was named Third Place for the 2025 American Prize Charles Ives Award, which recognizes excellence in instrumental chamber music. The honor recognizes Oliver’s trio Siglufjörður, scored for horn, cello and piano.

Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town, is tucked in a narrow fjord, with towering mountains that dive straight into the sea. Oliver’s piece is based on a traditional melody he encountered at Siglufjörður’s Folk Music Centre. “I was particular moved by a short song called Blástjarnan þótt skarti skær,” shares Oliver.” “This hauntingly beautiful melody was collected by ethnomusicologist Benedikt Jónsson (1846-1939) in northern Iceland. Blástjarnan is the blue star Vega.”