Alex Klein

One of the world’s leading oboists, Alex Klein received a Grammy Award for his recording of the Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto with Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony, where Klein served as Principal Oboe, and was given “Emeritus” status by Riccardo Muti. Klein won the First Prizes in the International Oboe Competitions of Geneva, New York, Fernand Gillet, and has taught at Northwestern University and at his alma mater, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, as well as master classes at the main Conservatories in Beijing, Geneva, Paris, Lyon, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Manchester, and at the Juilliard School. Klein has been a member of the judging panel for the international competitions in Geneva, Isle of Man/England, Tchaikovsky Conservatory/Moscow, Fernand Gillet Competition, and in Japan.

Klein left the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2004 due to complications arising from Musician’s Focal Dystonia, but relearned how to play his instrument and again auditioned successfully for his former post in 2016, before assuming the Principal Oboe chair with the Calgary Philharmonic in Canada, as well as teaching at DePaul University in Chicago and performing regularly with the Chicago Pro-Music Reed Trio.

After leaving the Chicago Symphony Klein devoted his career to the advancement of talented young players from Latin America and from disadvantaged communities. Klein founded and is Artistic Director of FEMUSC – Santa Catarina Music Festival, as well as founding and leading  award-winning, El Sistema-inspired PRIMA – Program of Social Inclusion though Music and the Arts. As a conductor, Alex Klein led Brazil’s top symphony orchestras and directed ensembles in the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Europe and China.