THE BACKSTORY

I fell in love with playing the oboe in middle school, and it was in those early pre-teen years when I realized that my fascination and talent for music could be my "thing." My friends had sports, dance classes, and academic clubs - I had my oboe. By the time I was registering for high school, I decided that I would become a professional musician.

In preparing for my college education, I began studying with Basil Reeve, the now retired Principal Oboe of the Minnesota Orchestra. He believed in me and pushed me to musical excellence, all while advising me on colleges and preparing me for each audition.

Thanks to his help, I was accepted into New England Conservatory of Music and moved to Boston! This was a new experience for me, in more ways than just a change of scenery.

This was the first time I felt like a "little fish in a big pond," so there were many challenges to face. And I overcame them.

I WENT FROM...

• Barely being able to scrape a reed to playing on one that I made myself from start to finish.
  

• Wrestling with difficult music to learning how to play it well.
  

• Feeling isolated on my "obscure" instrument to finding and collaborating with amazing colleagues.

AFTER BOSTON...

I traveled across the country to sunny Los Angeles to study at the University of Southern California (USC). While there, I threw myself into a completely different musical world, trying new things like playing in recording sessions and creating an outreach program for my woodwind quintet.

SINCE THEN...

I’ve paved the path to creating a full-time career as a professional oboist. As an active freelancer in the area, I enjoy performing with orchestras, music theatre groups and in chamber music settings throughout Southern California.

To fuel my passion for teaching, I created the Lyon Oboe Studio. It’s my privilege to work with oboe students who want to become skilled, musical players through private lessons so they can feel confident and supported while learning a unique instrument!

THE LITTLE THINGS

Hometown
White Bear Lake, MN (Go Bears!)

Current town
Lake Forest, CA

About my name... 
I know you're curious! I was named after my Norwegian great-grandmother, who was also named after her grandmother. Take that, Steve Jobs. ;)

I can't resist... 
Macaroni & cheese, ice cream, or Caribou Coffee.

If I'm not making music...
You can find me getting my sweat on at the gym, catching up with friends over a good meal, or relaxing at home with my husband watching Netflix.

When I'm stressed...
I blast Celine Dion and sing my heart out (in English and French, bien sûr!)

I originally wanted to play the flute...
Until my mom suggested the oboe. Good call, mom!

FAVORITE CONCERTS

Performing in St. Peter's Bascilica under the direction of Helmuth Rilling to open the VII Festival Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra.

Serving as Principal Oboe for Brahms' Symphony No. 1 with the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of my professor, David Weiss.

Collaborating with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in the inaugural Piatigorsky International Cello Festival under the direction of Hugh Wolff.

Serving as Principal Oboe for a USC Symphony Concert in Walt Disney Concert Hall, performing Prokofiev's Suite from Romeo & Juliet.

Sound of 5 quintet providing commencement music for Operation Graduation, a program that helps students with a high drop out risk in LA.

Being part of pit orchestras for musical productions of Mary Poppins and Chess.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS