Steel City Oboe Studio

Bursting with pride over here. Shout out to Emi who just got accepted into PYSO! This is the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony roster with new players in bold and MY students in highlighter. Shout out to two thirds of the oboe section in the best group around. Emi and Kenny practiced a lot to become the excellent players that they are. PYSO plays rep that would make me quake in my boots. (Don Juan and La Mer for example. What!?) Did I mention how proud I am?

I'm playing the Wizard of Oz with Belle Vernon Highschool right now. They are doing such a great job! Their drama and music department is inspiring. Last night there was a very thematically appropriate wind storm. Luckily no witches were caught under my house. The lights went out a few times before the show started, but it was smooth sailing after that. If you are in the South Hills there are shows tonight and Sunday afternoon.

Back at the Capitol Theater in Wheeling playing oboe 2 on a really fun pops concert. It plays itself, which makes it really chill.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18RFnrb2QE/

This is what happens when you spotlight an instrument! The results are in from December’s Oboe Month, and we’ve added some serious additions to the library 🎶✨ These newly uploaded scores are now free and accessible to oboists everywhere. Thank you to our wonderful community for all the requests, you made this possible.

See the link in bio for more information!

I already took pictures of the ceiling at CMU, so here is me with Mother and Child. (while eating a snack during a rehearsal break). Today is the last performance of La Clemenza di Tito, and it has been fun! Also hectic, hence the vending machine "dinner" during this rehearsal last week. I have been paying attention to what I love about playing oboe, (thanks to a very uplifting chat with Erin Brophy) and one thing I loved about opera is walking backstage like I'm a theater person. The only thing cooler would be if they gave me a headset. But also I love the satisfaction of playing in tune with another player and ending and beginning a note at exactly the same time. (difficult in an accompanied recit when opera singers are involved!) It's so satisfying. And in the few moments when I have an exposed line (playing oboe 2 here), I love the feeling of singing that I can achieve. Here's to more oboe playing.

My next gig:

https://www.cmu.edu/cfa/music/current-students/ensembles/opera.html =43901207

Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 8:00 PM
Friday, January 30, 2026 | 8:00 PM
Saturday, January 31, 2026 | 8:00 PM
Sunday February 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM

Opera - School of Music - Carnegie Mellon University Opera

https://c.org/KqtwqmF4Bn

If you are aware and following the goings on in the Vancouver Symphony, you should sign this petition. Pressuring a victim to sign an NDA is so harmful. It sends the message that the victim's healing is not important and that it's ok if this happens again as long as no one hears about it.

This campaign needs you now Esther Hwang, the Vancouver Symphony, and NDAs

Time for a ceiling selfie. This is the Warner theater in Erie where I am playing the Nutcracker this weekend. And there is a lake effect blizzard warning. Also I ended up doubling last minute. Lots of page flipping. One down, one more to go. It's my first time playing the Nutcracker and I hope to do it again many times.

Loved hearing the PSO with Ben Folds, even from the nose bleeds. They sounded incredible as always. It takes so much hard work to become a musician of that caliber. It takes hard work to learn an instrument at all! I was talking to another oboe teacher who pointed out that the skills he is asking his students to learn are difficult, and it may be the first time in their lives they are being asked to do something that difficult by themselves. Math was hard for me, and I was lucky to have a patient parent who walked me through probably 80% of my homework. And let's be real. Playing the oboe is a way different kind of skill- and it's difficult. No one can play the oboe for you. I think one of the benefits of learning an instrument is the self confidence that comes from knowing that you did a hard thing. (Also the joy of making music). I still get frustrated sometimes when my reeds are bad or my fingers are too slow- but I still know that I can play the oboe. And not just anyone can fake that. It's something to be proud of. I don't often go off about the non- musical utilitarian benefits of music making. But I think my friend has a point. Kids need to learn to work at a skill and master it. Learning to teach yourself (that's practicing at home) is invaluable.