Oboe
The oboe section is comprised of ten to twelve students from all over the world, enrolled in the Bachelor or Master degree programmes. Besides weekly private lessons from one’s principal teacher, the study programme consists of English horn lessons, student recitals, orchestral performance lessons, classes on technical skills and breathing control, and subjects such as mechanical adjustment and maintenance, plus a weekly evening session on making reeds. All students also enroll in wind ensemble and quintet lessons. In addition, students participate in the many orchestral and ensemble projects organized by the CvA, and there are abundant opportunities to play chamber music in various instrumentations.
The oboe section regularly invites renowned oboists to come teach at the conservatory. Recent masterclasses were given by Heinz Holliger, Alexei Ogrintchouk, Lucas Macias Navarro, Roland Perrenoud and Pauline Oostenrijk. Next study year, masterclasses will be given by Lucas Macias Navarro and Alexei Ogrintchouk.
Section representative: Ernest Rombout
The curriculum offers considerable scope to contemporary music and techniques. Advanced students can participate in the Score Collective, a special contemporary music ensemble that works closely with the composition department and stages professional concerts several times a year in halls such as the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ.
The study programme also offers many possibilities to those who want to develop their skills in the historical performance practice, such as lessons from our Baroque oboe teacher on Baroque or modern oboe. The Classical and Early Music departments often collaborate together, with the Baroque oboe section and the modern oboe section organizing joint student recital evenings and other activities, such as a visit to the music instrument collection at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Admission requirements
Audition candidates will be selected on the basis of a video recording to be submitted digitally via the application form. Recordings must be received by February 1st at the latest. Please choose works from three or more different style periods, showing your abilities to the full. Furthermore, one slow study from the 48 studies by W. Ferling. Where applicable, please record with accompaniment. The total duration of the recording should be 20-25 minutes.
The study promotes students' further development in all aspects of oboe playing. After two years, the student will be ready to enter the music world as a professional oboe player in any capacity and at the highest level as an orchestral musician, chamber player and soloist.
In the Master’s Degree Programme you choose your own area of specialisation. The research-subject and theoretical study options offered in the master’s programme enable you to become a specialist in for example solo playing, orchestral playing, a combination with early music, twentieth-century techniques and repertoire, or as a teacher. Having completed a two-year course of study, you will be able to take on professional work at the highest level.
Admission requirements
Audition candidates will be selected on the basis of a video recording to be submitted digitally via the application form. Recordings must be received by February 1st at the latest. The video repertoire consists of a diverse selection from the required audition repertoire of maximum 15 minutes.
Audition
The candidate will perform a programme which may not exceed 30 minutes. He/she is required to play at least one piece from memory. This programme will include a variety of musical styles. Programme guidelines and requirements may be obtained from the section representative Ernest Rombout
Audition repertoire
The choice of repertoire performed at the time of the bachelor's degree programme final examination and/or the entrance examination to the master's degree programme (for students from outside the Conservatory) must reflect a high level of proficiency with respect to technique, creativity, versatility and flexibility. Programme guidelines may be obtained from the representative of the section.
Ernest Rombout section representative & principal subject
Miriam Pastor Burgos principal subject
Aisling Casey principal subject, methodology, preliminary training, oboe as a subsidiary subject