“Pharmacist by day, dancer by night.” That’s how 28-year-old Candace Olusola would describe her most recent stint in Owensboro. Olusola is a pharmacy intern, former teacher in Ecuador, research scholar in biochemistry, French hornist, violinist, dancer, actress and Owensboro native.
Even though she’s lived all over the place, Owensboro is where Candace calls home. Her parents, Curline and Oluwole Olusola both work in the medical field and have encouraged their children to explore anything that catches their interest.
“Mom wanted us to see a little bit of everything, from a young age,” Olusola said. “If we were even curious about something, she made it happen for us to explore it. If it seemed we had a passion for it, she did everything she could to support that passion.”
Candace and her two brothers are equally diverse and talented in their interests, tastes, hobbies, and studies.
“We love academics. We are passionate about music. We are very artistic. We like sports too! We are very eclectic! We don’t feel balanced if we don’t have something academic, musical, and artsy in our lives,” Olusola said.
Her older brother Kevin, is the famous beatboxer in the acapella group, Pentatonix, but before his career as part of an ensemble, he performed at Carnegie Hall as a cellist, played the saxophone, and studied in China.
Her younger brother, Kellon, plays the viola, piano, and is in medical school at Columbia University.
Aside from teaching in Ecuador and presenting at the American Chemical Society, Candace recently starred in the Encore Musicals production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” while putting in long hours for her pharmacy internship at both Poole’s Pharmacy and Owensboro Health.
In May 2019, she will complete her doctor of pharmacy from the University of Kentucky.
Of her role in the recent musical, Olusola said, “after the blood, sweat, and tears of pharmacy school, I had the chance to act with people I hadn’t seen in years. It was so fun to be a part of the community while back at home.”
Candace’s parents and her brothers are all now in different locations, but, regardless of where they are, the siblings stay connected via group text to keep each other informed and make sure everyone is sane.
“Kevin is literally Carmen Sandiego. You never know where he is!” Olusola said.
After her internship hours in Owensboro conclude on September 14, Olusola will return to Lexington for the next portion of her internship before finally completing her studies in May 2019.
As a last hurrah for her time in Owensboro, Candace is organizing an impromptu sunset worship service on the Ohio River by Smothers Park on Saturday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. for anyone interested in attending.
