3. Cleveland Institute of Music – Cleveland, OH
Notable Faculty: Jeffrey Rathbun, Frank Rosenwein
An extremely small and competitive oboe student body with a storied history of oboe pedagogy beginning in the mid-20th century with John Mack, the Cleveland Institute of Music is among the top schools in the nation for oboe performance. Headed by Cleveland Orchestra musicians Jeffrey Rathbun and Frank Rosenwein, oboe students of CIM regularly garner professorships and paid positions in many of the most renowned American orchestras. Acceptance into this studio, perhaps less than 3 or 4 total students per year, is a rare honor in the realm of academic woodwind achievement.
Listen to the Faculty: Check out Jeffrey Rathbun’s solo oboe album Color Factory
2. Juilliard School – New York, NY
Notable Faculty: Elaine Douvas, Nathan Hughes, Richard Dallessio
Possibly the most notable oboe professor in the US, Elaine Douvas holds a teaching position not only at the Juilliard School, but also at Mannes College and Bard College-Conservatory. Oboists are given 26 lessons per year at Juilliard under the tutelage of Elaine Douvas and regularly meet for a studio class, in which students get to hear the performance and instruction of other top oboe students. Additionally, students are instructed in how to make reeds properly for their instrument (a difficult task for the inexperienced woodwind player), and are given thorough performance lessons in English horn, an instrument often asked of oboists to play, by noted New York City Ballet oboist Richard Dallessio. Graduates of the Juilliard oboe program regularly win positions in prestigious universities, orchestras, and as fellows of music festivals. Expect a very complete, thorough, and traditional education at this institution for classical oboe performance.
Listen to the Faculty: Check out oboist Elaine Douvas on the critically acclaimed CD Oboe Divas!
1. Curtis Institute of Music – Philadelphia, PA
Notable Faculty: Richard Woodhams
Many of the finest, most accomplished oboists performing in orchestras today seem to have graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music. In fact, the principal oboists of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (NEC faculty member John Ferrillo), the New York Philharmonic (MSM faculty member Liang Wang), and the Philadelphia Orchestra (Curtis’ own Richard Woodhams) all graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music. Richard Woodhams is not only one of the most accomplished oboists performing today, he is also a highly esteemed pedagogue. Besides the aforementioned BSO, NY Phil, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, his past students hold the principal positions in the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony! There may not be another living oboist on the planet with a track record as impressive as Richard Woodhams for sending students to top orchestral positions.
Listen to the Faculty: Check out Richard Woodhams on the album Chamber Music for Winds