Oboe in the Bachelor of Music (BMus)

Laurier has a long history of producing oboe students who have successful careers as orchestral musicians, teachers, and freelancers.

The oboe studio is a vibrant, inspiring, and supportive community, an ideal university atmosphere.

We boast a well-equipped and dedicated reed room, instructors who encourage you to achieve your personal best and guest instructors who bring unique teachings to our everyday. We all encourage and help each other.

Careers

arts administrator
classroom teacher
conductor
content creator
entrepreneur
music therapist
performer
private teacher
sound designer
sound engineer

Alumni have successfully pursued law, medicine, business, music therapy and community music.

Auditions

Requirements

Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required. Acquiring a rudimentary knowledge of reed-making before the start of the program is strongly advised.

Please pick one selection from each of the following lists. Aim to choose a repertoire that showcases your strengths and shows a variety of scope within your playing. Substitutions are allowed but must be approved by the oboe faculty. For substitution approval, email choosemusic@wlu.ca.

List A:

Cimarosa, Concerto. First two movements.
Handel, Sonatas in C minor or F major. First two movements.
Haydn, Concerto in C major. First movement.
Marcello, Concerto in C (or D) minor. First two movements.
Mozart, Quartet for oboe and strings K370. First movement.
Mozart, Concerto in C major, K314. First movement.
Telemann, Sonata in A minor. First two movements.

List B:

Archer, Four Moods for Solo Oboe. One movement of your choice.
Britten, Six Metamorphoses. One movement of your choice.
Dring, Italian Dance.
Dring, Three Piece Suite. One movement of your choice.
Gipps, Sea-Shore Suite, Op. 3b. One movement of your choice.
Hétu, Incantation Op. 28.
Hindemith, Sonata. First movement.
Nash, 9 NYC Miniatures. Any two contrasting movements.
Nielsen, Two Fantasy Pieces. Both movements.
Poulenc, Sonata. First movement.
Saint-Saëns, Oboe Sonata. First or second movement.
Still, Incantation and Dance.

Audition Advice

Applying and auditioning at music schools is no small feat — congratulations on your courage and commitment to excellent music-making. In this process, you can ground yourself in your deep and thorough preparation:

Begin by choosing your audition repertoire early, even as early as September or October. Many schools have overlapping repertoires, but some do not. Make sure to read the requirements carefully.
Listen to plenty of recordings to immerse yourself in the sounds of the composers you have chosen. Check out their other works and read their biographies.
Bring the repertoire you have chosen to your private teacher. Take note of the advice they give you and apply it to the best of your ability.
Record yourself playing the repertoire and find areas for improvement.
Do mock auditions for your family and friends. Have them scribble or take notes on paper to distract you.
Take advantage of the free lesson available to you as a prospective student. We will gladly help coach you through the repertoire you have chosen.
On the day of the audition, trust your preparation, try to get lots of rest beforehand and make sure you eat well. Taking care of your health and well-being is of utmost importance.

Program Details

First-Year Courses

MU100: Music at its Contexts
MU181: Ensemble
MU136/137: Musical Skills
MU161/162: Music Theory
MU190A: Applied Study (lessons and masterclass)
three elective courses

Laurier Ensemble and Performance Opportunities

chamber music ensembles
concerto competitions
community outreach performances
Improvisation Concerts Ensemble
student composer concerts
Symphony Orchestra
Wind Orchestra
freelance work for students demonstrating an excellent work ethic, and high level of musicianship

Oboe Instructor

Ron Cohen Mann

Oboe Guest Artists

Alex Klein, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Bede Hanley, Auckland Philharmonic
Jonathan Fischer, Houston Symphony
Sarah Jeffrey, Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Additional Oboe Facts

Facilities and Equipment

The studio is equipped to provide a seamless transition to remote learning, if needed. Students that may be unable to attend a lesson or studio class in person will have the option to participate in a live remote event or request a recording of the class.
Generously sized reed room equipped with gouging equipment, knife sharpening equipment, and more. This is a space designed for your growth and exploration as a reed maker.

Health and Well-being

You will be a part of a small community of supportive peers and teachers. During you studies, your teacher will help you find an appropriate work-life balance and give you the tools necessary to make sustainable and healthy progress.
Mental and physical health and wellness are a top priority. Students are welcome to approach their main teacher to be connected to the best possible resources. Music is a challenging undertaking and students should feel safe and supported.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to form chamber music groups amongst their peers to perform on student recitals and in the community.
Students are encouraged to apply for summer music programs each year. These programs are located around Canada and throughout the world. Students will receive guidance in putting together their audition packages and applications for each program. Programs range from volunteer teaching to performance music festivals.
Many students are actively preparing for auditions. These auditions range from summer festivals to professional orchestra auditions. Many students also have projects such as arranging, composition, and other groups that they perform with.
Students will be able to take part in performances around the southern Ontario region, participate in masterclasses from industry professionals and have opportunities to play mock auditions to prepare them for professional audition taking.