Humbert J. Lucarelli, Faculty Emeritus
Humbert Lucarelli, "America's leading oboe recitalist" (The New York Times), has appeared extensively as soloist with internationally known orchestras and chamber music groups throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. He has performed and recorded with some of the world’s leading conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Fiedler, Kiril Kondrshin, Josef Krips, James Levine, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Artur Rodzinsky, Sir Georg Solti, Leopold Stokowski and Igor Stravinsky. He records for Koch International, Vox, BMG Classics, Well-Tempered, Stradivari and Special Music. Among the many recordings to his credit is the Oboe Concerto written for him by John Corigliano. He is the recipient of a Solo Recitalist Fellowship, Consortium Commissioning and Music Recording Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is a professor of oboe at The Hartt School.
Karen Birch Blundell
Karen Birch Blundell is a New York City based performer and teaching artist. She is English horn of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Associate Principal Oboe/English horn of the Eastern Music Festival. She performs with ensembles throughout the Northeast including: the American Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Hartford Symphony, New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Norwalk Symphony, and Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Prior to her time in NY, Karen was Second Oboe/English horn with the Sarasota Orchestra. While in Florida, she regularly performed with neighboring orchestras including the Florida Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic. She has been a guest musician with The Houston Symphony, The Houston Ballet Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Beyond the Classical realm, Karen has toured the US with the New Sousa Band and performed with mega stars including Bernadette Peters, Idina Menzel, Mannheim Steamroller and The Who.
Karen Holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and The Hartt School of Music. She spent three years as a fellow at the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Prior to her time in NY, Karen was Second Oboe/English horn with the Sarasota Orchestra. While in Florida, she regularly performed with neighboring orchestras including the Florida Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic. She has been a guest musician with The Houston Symphony, The Houston Ballet Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Beyond the Classical realm, Karen has toured the US with the New Sousa Band and performed with mega stars including Bernadette Peters, Idina Menzel, Mannheim Steamroller and The Who.
Karen Holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and The Hartt School of Music. She spent three years as a fellow at the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Ling-Fei Kang
A Native of Taiwan, oboist Ling-Fei Kang has performed as a chamber musician and soloist in North, South America and Asia, including recitals at the Brazilian Double Reed Association in João Pessoa, the conferences of the Asian Double Reed Association in Bangkock, and the International Double Reed Society in Redlands, Tokyo, and Granada.
She has served as Professor of Oboe at the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho in Fortaleza, Brazil and given masterclasses at Universidad do Estado de Minas Gerais, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Northern Colorado and Washington State University. She is on faculty at The Hotchkiss School, The Loomis Chaffee School, Miss Porter School and Community Music School in Connecticut.
As a founding member of Oboe Duo Agosto, Ms. Kang has commissioned original works for oboe and English horn from composers such as Kyong Mer Choi, Ken Steen, Andrea Clearfield, to name a few. She can be heard on "Imaginary Birds" by Ravello Records, featuring music written for Oboe Duo Agosto by Phil Salathé.
Ms. Kang is the executive director of Oboe International, a nonprofit organization which fosters the growth of the oboe as a solo instrument. She is also a grant-recipient of Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Taiwanese National Culture and Arts Foundation. She graduated with the Prix Alec grande distinction from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and also earned an Artist Diploma from The Hartt School, University of Harford. Her principal teachers include Humbert Lucarelli and Bernard Jean.
She has served as Professor of Oboe at the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho in Fortaleza, Brazil and given masterclasses at Universidad do Estado de Minas Gerais, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Northern Colorado and Washington State University. She is on faculty at The Hotchkiss School, The Loomis Chaffee School, Miss Porter School and Community Music School in Connecticut.
As a founding member of Oboe Duo Agosto, Ms. Kang has commissioned original works for oboe and English horn from composers such as Kyong Mer Choi, Ken Steen, Andrea Clearfield, to name a few. She can be heard on "Imaginary Birds" by Ravello Records, featuring music written for Oboe Duo Agosto by Phil Salathé.
Ms. Kang is the executive director of Oboe International, a nonprofit organization which fosters the growth of the oboe as a solo instrument. She is also a grant-recipient of Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Taiwanese National Culture and Arts Foundation. She graduated with the Prix Alec grande distinction from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and also earned an Artist Diploma from The Hartt School, University of Harford. Her principal teachers include Humbert Lucarelli and Bernard Jean.
Dr. Kristin Leitterman
Kristin Leitterman defies modern convention as a solo artist of oboe and voice, bringing exciting and unusual programs to audiences. She has commissioned a number of works for oboe/voice, with works by Michael-Thomas Foumai, Jason Coleman, Whitney George, and Lyle Davidson. Her many performances have lead her to major concert halls throughout the U. S., such as Carnegie Hall and Jordan Hall, as well as internationally to Spain, Brazil, and Canada.
Dr. Leitterman is currently the Assistant Professor of Oboe at Arkansas State University where she teaches oboe and bassoon, Double Reed Techniques, and coaches small chamber ensembles. She is also the Director of the Lucarelli Oboe Master Class, a weeklong immersive oboe master class founded by Bert Lucarelli. As a guest artist she has presented master classes at many institutions, including Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and the Hartt School.
As a researcher, Dr. Leitterman has interests in the life and works of Mary Chandler and Marie Grandval, as well as the musical autograph album of Gustave Vogt. She has presented her research at The Juilliard School, Music by Women Festival, the International Double Reed Society conferences, and the Brazilian Double Reed Society’s conference in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
She holds degrees from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, the Hartt School, New England Conservatory, and the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her teachers include Humbert Lucarelli, Mark McEwen, Barbara Bishop, and Amy Burton (voice).
Dr. Leitterman is currently the Assistant Professor of Oboe at Arkansas State University where she teaches oboe and bassoon, Double Reed Techniques, and coaches small chamber ensembles. She is also the Director of the Lucarelli Oboe Master Class, a weeklong immersive oboe master class founded by Bert Lucarelli. As a guest artist she has presented master classes at many institutions, including Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and the Hartt School.
As a researcher, Dr. Leitterman has interests in the life and works of Mary Chandler and Marie Grandval, as well as the musical autograph album of Gustave Vogt. She has presented her research at The Juilliard School, Music by Women Festival, the International Double Reed Society conferences, and the Brazilian Double Reed Society’s conference in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
She holds degrees from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, the Hartt School, New England Conservatory, and the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her teachers include Humbert Lucarelli, Mark McEwen, Barbara Bishop, and Amy Burton (voice).