Oboe Studio

Studying Oboe at Lamont

Lamont’s oboe studio offers a supportive and friendly environment where students grow into confident, expressive musicians. Led by Professors Ian Wisekal and Sarah Bierhaus, oboe students receive personalized instruction catered to their individual goals and needs. 

As an oboe student at Lamont, your week revolves around immersive, hands-on learning and meaningful performance experiences. You’ll receive weekly private lessons, participate in large ensembles like Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Opera, and play in a variety of chamber ensembles that rotate throughout your time here—ranging from trios and quartets to woodwind quintets and beyond. Recent masterclasses and guest artists include Nancy Ambrose King (University of Michigan), the Imani Winds, and Jacqueline Leclair (McGill University).

You’ll also join a vibrant studio culture that includes a weekly oboe class focused on technique and repertoire, followed by a collaborative woodwind studio class where students learn to perform for peers, offer constructive feedback, and receive insight from all woodwind faculty. Reed-making is a cornerstone of your training, supported by our exceptional reed room—equipped with a sink, microwave, mini-fridge, and work bench—offering you the tools and space to hone this essential craft.

The Lamont oboe studio is small by design, ensuring every student receives personal attention and plenty of opportunities to perform. The studio is comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students. With the option to study with one of two distinguished faculty members, you’ll benefit from complementary teaching styles and find the mentor who best suits your goals.

Outside the studio, opportunities abound. Lamont’s size allows for personalized attention and meaningful connections, while the city of Denver offers a vibrant music scene with regional orchestras, gigs, and teaching opportunities. Our students are active performers in the community and often get paid work before they even graduate.

Above all, the oboe studio at Lamont is a warm, supportive environment where students lift each other up and collaborate in pursuit of their individual artistry. If you're looking for a place to grow, perform, and find your unique voice on the oboe, we invite you to join us at Lamont.

Faculty

Oboe students at Lamont study with award-winning artists Ian Wisekal and Sarah Bierhaus. Prof. Wisekal is Principal Oboe of both the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and Crested Butte Music Festival and previously held the position of Associate Principal Oboe with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. Professor Bierhaus is Principal Oboe of Opera Colorado and the Boulder Philharmonic and Associate Principal of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

Life After Lamont

Lamont students have worked with some of the most prestigious music organizations in the world. Alumni have performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolf Trap, Vancouver Symphony, Broadway, the West End, and San Francisco Opera. Lamont composers have premiered works at Carnegie Hall and the Monterey Jazz Festival, and conductors have led orchestras from Brazil to Hungary. Graduates of our Musicology and music theory programs hold posts at prestigious institutions nationwide. And our recording and production students have launched careers in Hollywood, editing soundtracks for films like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.