Masterclass: Nermis Mieses, oboe

Nermis Mieses is the Associate Professor of Oboe at Michigan State University and faculty at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. She has received prizes at the prestigious Barbirolli International Oboe Competition, the First International Oboe Competition in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and the Matthew Ruggiero International Woodwind Competition.

As part of her research interests, she continues to champion repertoire from the iconic French oboist-composer, Gilles Silvestrini, as well as music from underrepresented composers. She is frequently featured in universities, conservatories, chamber music series, and as a presenter at the IDRS conferences.

Equally dedicated to ensemble playing, she spent nine seasons as Principal Oboe of the Michigan Opera Theatre and has collaborated with symphony orchestras such as Detroit, Ann Arbor, Sphinx, ProMusica Chamber, and the Michigan Philharmonic. Internationally, she has performed with Camerata Colonial in the Dominican Republic, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Thy Chamber Music Festival in Denmark, and the Chineke! Orchestra in Europe.

Passionate about her oboe studio, Dr. Mieses is known for her nurturing, yet ambitious teaching style. Excited about mentoring, she guides her students to achieve healthy growth as learners, instrumentalists, musicians, and artists. Previously, she taught at Bowling Green State University, the University of Kentucky, Ohio Northern, and Hillsdale College. She holds DMA and MM degrees from the University of Michigan under Dr. Nancy Ambrose King, where she was conferred the 2020 Paul Boyland Award by the School of Music Theatre and Dance Alumni Society of Governors. She is a proud mother of two children and frequently performs with her husband, pianist Xavier Suarez.