Lora MacPherson, B.F.A., M.M.

Oboe and English Horn           Education: 

Master of Music 
Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois).  Degree in Oboe Performance.

B.F.A.
New College (Sarasota, Florida; modeled after the New College of Oxford). Liberal Arts Degree; emphasis in music and art, with minors in language and literature.

Studied with:
Ray Still (Chicago Symphony) and James Ryon (The Florida Orchestra).Further studies with Hans Roerade (Het Residentie Orkest, Netherlands), Peter Smith (Philadelphia Orchestra), Mark McEwen (Boston Symphony).Masterclass performances with Katherine Greenbank, Alan Vogel, Neil Black, and John Mack.

 Orchestral Experience: 

1988 - Present:
Principal Oboe, Brevard Symphony Orchestra (Melbourne/Cocoa, Florida).

1998-Present:
Oboe, Walt Disney World Orchestra

2008:

Principal Oboe, Carl Rosa Opera Company American Tour

1990-98:

Principal Oboe, Southwest Florida Symphony (Ft. Myers, Florida).

Present
Substitute Principal, Second Oboe and E.H., The Florida Orchestra (Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida).

Present
Substitute Oboe, Jacksonville Symphony

2000-02
Second Oboe, Greenville Symphony Orchestra (Greenville, S.C.).

1988 - 1990
Principal Oboe, Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Gainesville, Florida).

1983 - 1987
Second Oboe/ E. Horn, Naples Philharmonic (Naples, Florida).

1987, 1988
Principal Oboe, Classiche Musik Festival Orchestra (cities throughout Austria).

Orchestral Highlights: Performed as Principal Oboe in various concerts and various orchestras with artists such as: Glenn Dicterow, concertmaster of the NY Philharmonic (with Brahms Violin Concerto and Prokofiev Violin Concerto); Garrick Ohlsson (Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2);  Itzak Perlman (Beethoven Violin Concerto);Sheryl Staples (Barber Violin Concerto); 

As well as:  Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavorotti, James Taylor, Whitney Houston, John Denver, Roberta Peters (Metropolitan Opera), and Samuel Ramey (Metropolitan Opera).  

Performed under the baton of such conductors as: Walter Hendl, Victor Yampolsky, Stefan Sanderling, Christopher Seaman, Jahja Ling, Michael Stern,  Paul Nadler, Joseph Silverstein, Tsung Yeh, Kypros Marcou, Christopher Confessore, Kenneth Montgomery, and Fabio Mecchetti.

 
 Miscellaneous Present Activities

 2001 - Present
 Fifer with “Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps,”  Walt Disney World, Epcot, American Adventure.

 2006- 2008
 Silversmithing apprenticeship in Boston with David Skillen, 20-year veteran of the Haynes Flute Co. 

 Solo and Chamber Music Performances: 

1987, 1988
Chamber music performances at Classiche Musik Festival at Schloss Esterhazy (Haydn’s residence, Eisenstadt, Austria).

1988
Chamber orchestra concerts at St. Stephansdom Cathedral, St. Michaelskirche (Vienna, Austria), and St. Ursulinakirche (Linz, Austria).

1989
Featured Soloist, Brevard Symphony Orchestra (Bach Double Concerto, Oboe/Violin).

1990
Chamber Music Recitals, Lucerne Music Camp Faculty Series (Lucerne, NY).

1993
Solo Recital, “Bach’s Lunch”  Series, St. Luke’s Cathedral(Orlando).

1995
Featured Chamber Ensemble Concert (Prokofiev Quintet), Van Wezel Hall, Sarasota Music Festival (Sarasota, Fl.).

1996
Soloist, Brevard Symphony Orchestra (Hummel Oboe Concerto).

1996
Soloist in “Central Florida in Concert” Series, Saint Luke’s Cathedral,(Orlando, Fl.).

1996
Solo Recital, Steinway Studio(Orlando, Fl.).

2000

Chamber Music Recital, “Bach’s Lunch” Series, St. Luke’s Cathedral  (downtown Orlando, Fl.).

 Festivals: 

1987, 1988
Principal oboe, Classiche Musik Festival (Eisenstadt, Austria).

1990
Lucerne Chamber Music Summer Camp, Faculty Artist and Teacher.(Lucerne, N.Y.).

1995
Sarasota Music Festival, Participant and Performer(Sarasota, Fl.).

 Miscellaneous: 

1999-2001
Oboist in Chamber Music group “Nova Era” at Walt Disney World, Epcot, Italian Pavilion Stage(Orlando, Fl.).