Nancy Ambrose King

Nancy Ambrose King, oboe, is the first-prize winner of the Third New York International Competition for Solo Oboists, held in 1995. She has appeared as soloist throughout the United States and abroad, including performances with the St. Petersburg, Russia, Philharmonic, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Janacek Philharmonic, the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra, the Puerto Rico Symphony, the Orchestra of the Swan, the New York String Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and Sinfonia da Camera.

She has recorded nine CDs of works for the oboe, on Boston Records, Cala Records, Equilibrium, Naxos and Centaur Records, and written an E-book for Apple I-Tunes titled “Making Oboe Reeds from Start to Finish with Nancy Ambrose King”.

Her playing has earned high praise from a variety of critics, including the American Record Guide: “Marvelously evocative, full of character, sultry and seductive, with a soft-spoken, utterly supple tone, and as musically descriptive as any I have heard…a fine exhibition of thoroughly musical oboe playing”; “She plays not only with delicacy, but also with an intense, almost rapturous sound that is second to none in expressivity and gradation.  Delightful!”.

Currently Professor of Oboe at the University of Michigan, she served as the first female President of the International Double Reed Society (IDRS). A graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Music degree, studying with Arno Mariotti and Harry Sargous, Ms. King was the recipient of the school’s prestigious Stanley Medal and was honored with the 2010 Hall of Fame Award by the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts, Master of Music, and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Richard Killmer.