Rufus Olivier, Jr. was born in December 1955 in South Central Los Angeles. His father, a saxophonist, taught Olivier to play music as a child. Olivier began playing in orchestras in grade school and played in jazz band in high school. Also while in high school, Olivier took music lessons at the University of Southern California and worked as a studio musician. He began playing for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic after high school. He began his career in San Francisco in 1977 when he became the second chair for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. In 1980, he became the principal bassoonist for the San Francisco Opera and the principal bassoonist for the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra in 1992. He joined the Local 47 Union in the 1970s and has been an active member of the Local 6 Union since moving to the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1993, he was awarded the Seal of the City and County of San Francisco by Mayor Jordan, recognizing his exemplary accomplishments in music. He has also won several Grammys, including in the year 2000 for the "Elmo in Grouchland" soundtrack. He is a founding member of the Anchor Chambers Players, Midsummer Mozart Orchestra, and Stanford Wind Quintet and has taught at Mills College, San Francisco State University, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Stanford University. In this interview, Olivier discusses his early life and memories of his neighborhood; his parents and their backgrounds; his father's military service as a Buffalo Soldier in the 92nd Division; his older sisters and their love of singing; his father's encouragement to learn to read music before playing a single note; the impact of segregation and racism on his father's music career in the South; early orchestra experiences; developing a love of classical music at a young age; music lessons at the University of Southern California; relationship with David Breidenthal; gigs as a studio musician; touring in the mid-1970s with the Revolutions; meeting his wife; playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; audition process for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; playing with Steve Paulson; the birth of his daughter, Samara; auditioning, and winning, the principal bassoonist position in the San Francisco Opera Orchestra; significant pieces, performances, and moments with the San Francisco Opera; his union involvement; the birth of his son Rufus; becoming principal bassoonist of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra; the blind audition process; working as part of a team; changing sound; memories of the 1989 earthquake and its aftermath; weathering changes in the Orchestra and Company over the years; teaching career; impact of September 11, 2001 and the 2008 Recession on the company; travel; the role of music in his children's lives; learning to horseback ride; move to North Bay for horses; his wife's support of his career; the COVID-19 pandemic; recognition for his achievements; thoughts on retirement; and hopes for the future of arts and music in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Opera, and his family, including his grandson.