Oliver first showed signs of his musical gift at the early age of three and a half, when he started playing songs by ear on the piano, playing chords, making up his own songs, and improvising. At age six, he had his first cello lessons with Chip Bergeron, principal cellist with the Whatcom Symphony of Bellingham, Washington . Later, he moved on to the Vancouver Academy , studying cello with Audrey Nodwell and Eugene Osadchy, and piano with Saida Matyakov. Currently, he is studying cello with Paula Kiffner and piano with Roger Buksa at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Oliver gave his debut recital on Orcas Island , Washington , at age seven, after one year of cello and piano lessons. He was featured on the front page of the local paper and 140 people paid to hear him perform. When he was eight, he gave his second full recital that included the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto, the Haydn Piano Concerto in D, and the Mendelssohn Piano Trio in d minor, with his brother Lennon playing violin and Alisa Zanker playing the piano. He continued to pursue his interest in chamber music at the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, where his quartet was chosen to perform. This year, at age 10, in addition to giving full recitals in different cities in the Northwest, Oliver has been chosen to perform as soloist with three orchestras: the Whatcom Symphony, the Sooke Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony. So far, he is booked through November 2004.

In addition to lessons with renowned professors like Eugene Osadchy of Northern Texas University, Oliver has been heard by Cleveland Institute cellist Richard Aaron, who invited him to study there when he is older, and Ronal Leonard, first cellist of the Los Angeles Symphony and teacher at the Culborn School of Music, who invited Oliver to attend that well-known school with a full scholarship once he is old enough.