Oboe

Audition + apply

Welcome to the oboe studio at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music!

Pedagogy
All lessons include reed-making assistance with the goal of developing the skills to be a first-rate reed maker. Teaching Professor Peter Cooper works with students on basic fundamentals such as embouchure, breathing, tone production and body efficiency, as well as covering solo repertoire. The studio has between eight and 10 students, comprising undergraduates and two Graduate Teaching Assistants. One of the TAs is responsible for organizing the weekly studio class, as well as teaching a technique and reed-making class for the undergrads; the other TA plays in the Graduate Woodwind Quintet.

What makes the CU Boulder oboe studio unique?
Students are strongly encouraged to contribute to an atmosphere of camaraderie in a supportive environment. Healthy competition means students aim to inspire each other, emulate what they admire in other students and strive for their personal best while encouraging each other. Cutthroat competition is strongly discouraged. Cooper’s position as principal oboist of the Colorado Symphony adds a performance perspective and experience to his teaching, and students can hear him perform major oboe excerpts in a full-time professional orchestra. Nothing requires good reed-making more than the weekly routine of being a principal oboist and Cooper passes these skills along to his students. Having been a first oboist for more than three decades, he has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the classical music business and works with each student on career goals.

Peter Cooper

Peter Cooper

Principal oboist of the Colorado Symphony since 1993 and teaching professor of oboe at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music, Peter Cooper has taught and performed as soloist with orchestras in Asia, Europe and the United States. He previously held positions in the San Francisco Symphony and as principal oboist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2022, he co-hosted the International Double Reed Society conference at the University of Colorado Boulder bringing together 1,000 oboists, bassoonists and exhibitors from around the world. In recent years, he has given master classes at the conservatories of Paris and Lyon in France and Berlin, Leipzig and Stuttgart in Germany. MORE

Upcoming woodwinds events

More

  • Eirian Anciaux, junior—Colorado
  • Lauren Breen, DMA—Illinois
  • Emilie Feve, senior—Colorado
  • Thomas Goodwin, freshman—Colorado
  • Laura Lambrech, junior—Colorado
  • Colten Quackenbush, freshman—Arizona
  • Lisa Read, DMA—Michigan
  • Riley Stone, sophomore—Colorado
  • Grace Stringfellow, DMA—Texas
  • Luka Vezmar, junior—Colorado
Orchestral Positions
  • Ingrid Anderson—Boulder Symphony, Principal Oboist
  • Ciara Glasheen Artem—Camerata Ireland, Principal Oboist
  • Sarah Bierhaus—Boulder Philharmonic, Principal Oboist; Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Acting Principal Oboist; Opera Colorado, Principal Oboist; Central City Opera, 2nd Oboist
  • Kathryn Bloise—Air Force Band of the West
  • Brittany Bonner—Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Principal Oboist; Boulder Philharmonic, Oboe and English Horn; Greeley Philharmonic, 2nd Oboist
  • Jennifer Johnson Cullinan—Los Angeles Opera, 2nd English Horn; Santa Barbara Symphony, Principal Oboist: Frequently heard on major motion pictures and TV soundtracks
  • Abby Yeakle Held—West Texas Symphony, former English Horn
  • Brandon Labadie—Musica Maestrale (OR), Baroque Oboist and Executive Director
  • Steven Maijala—Chippewa Valley Symphony, Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, Oboe and English Horn; Midwest Musical Imports, Oboe Specialist
  • Sophie Maeda—Boulder Chamber Orchestra, 2nd Asst. Principal Oboist; Boulder Philharmonic, Artistic Coordinator
  • Sophie Mok—Asian Youth Orchestra, Asst. Conductor
  • Jordan Pyle—Reno Philharmonic, English Horn; Boulder Mahlerfest, Principal Oboist
  • Lisa Read—Denver Philharmonic, Principal Oboist; Longmont Symphony, Principal Oboist
  • Curtis Sellers—West Valley Symphony (AZ), Principal Oboist
  • Kelly Smestad—Bilbao Symphony, Euskadi Orchestra (Spain), Substitute Oboist
  • Grace Stringfellow—Boise Symphony, 2nd Oboist; Wichita Symphony, 2nd Oboist
  • Kristin Weber—Wichita Symphony, Principal Oboist; Tulsa Philharmonic/Opera, English Horn; NW Arkansas Symphony, Principal Oboist
  • Daren Weissfisch—Tacoma Opera, Music Director; Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa (Mexico), former 2nd Asst. Oboist
  • Clayton Williams—National tours of many Broadway shows
  • Kip Zimmerman—Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Substitute Oboist

College Teaching Positions
  • Ciara Glasheen Artem—University College Cork (Ireland), Oboe Professor and Head of Music
  • Sarah Bierhaus—University of Denver
  • Lindabeth Binkley—Central Michigan University
  • Brittany Bonner—University of Wyoming; Parlando School of the Arts
  • Jennifer Johnson Cullinan—Pasadena Conservatory
  • Christa Garvey—University of Wisconsin-Eau Clair
  • Abby Yeakle Held—Ohio State University
  • Rebecca Mindock—Formerly at University of Southern Alabama
  • Kristin Weber—Wichita State University, Oral Roberts University
  • Khara Wolf—Fort Lewis College

High School + Middle School Teaching Positions
  • Alexandra Carlson—Minnesota
  • Hannah Harm—Colorado
  • Drew Iannuccillo—Colorado
  • Ilse Riordan—Colorado
  • Kaitlin Sheridan—Colorado

Contact

Peter Cooper
Teaching Professor, Oboe
peter.cooper@colorado.edu
303-492-0349, x2
Imig Music Building, S307