Since 1994 Robert Sheena has been the principal English horn player for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Boston Pops Orchestra (BPO). As a result of his mastery of his instrument, Mr. Sheena has been honored with several premieres and appearances as soloist with the BSO/BPO and has received much critical and audience acclaim. Esteemed Boston area composers Daniel Pinkham and Marti Epstein have both written beautiful solo works for him.
As a teacher of the oboe and the English horn, Mr. Sheena is currently on the faculties of The Boston University School of Music, the Boston Conservatory, the Longy School of Music, and the NEC Preparatory School. An alumnus of the Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship program, he now works with TMC Fellows every summer in chamber music coachings and Master Classes at Tanglewood. Along with BSO Principal Oboist John Ferrillo, he co-directs an intensive two-week summer workshop for young oboists at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
Prior to joining the BSO Mr. Sheena performed frequently as an extra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. From 1987 to 1991 he was Assistant Principal Oboe and Solo English horn with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and with the San Antonio Symphony from 1991 to 1994. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, School of Music. His oboe teachers have included Ray Still, Grover Schiltz, William Banovetz, John Mack and Marc Lifschey.
Robert Sheena plays a Lorée English horn, exclusively: « Now, as always, I love my Lorée English horn. I will always play Lorée English horns. They are simply the best! »
More information about Mr. Sheena is available at the following web-sites: www.bso.org and www.robertsheena.com.