Sophomore music performance and biochemistry double major Cole Kubesch was recently accepted into the Pierre Monteux Orchestra Festival in Maine this summer.

Kubesch looks forward to exhibiting his oboe and English Horn skills at the festival, though part assignments should vary throughout. The program contains an intense repertoire of sixty-five pieces performed over six weeks, with rehearsals every day.

He auditioned competition-style as an oboist and English Horn player after studying under Miami University music professor Andrea Ridilla and his high school instrumental music teacher, Jimmy Blankenship, who happens to be a Miami alumni.

In his first year as a college student, Kubesch won the Miami University Concerto Competition. He also performed the Ralph Vaughan Williams Concerto, by memory, with the Miami University Symphony Orchestra (MUSO) in April 2022.

He continues his involvement in MUSO, which he credits to his great introduction to the professional orchestral experience. He still feels the gravity of playing all oboe 1, oboe 2, and English Horn parts in its symphony orchestra his freshman year at Miami.

“It’s given me a huge advantage over students who go to certain schools where they might not be able to do that until their junior year,” Kubesch said. “Miami University's music department is a hidden gem among college music programs.”

Kubesch started oboe in his sixth grade band program in Cincinnati. After college, he plans on continuing music and eventually teaching in a private studio. However, he has to decide between applying for graduate programs in post-secondary chemistry or auditioning for music.

The latter requires expanding his network, and he hopes the festival will help him gain knowledge on becoming a future graduate oboe performance professor himself. He wants to work not only at a professional level, but also motivate students to think in ways they never considered before.

“It definitely would be a challenging career; however, I started the oboe because I wanted a challenge, and I know that if I give myself enough time and patience, I will do my best.”

His mentor, MUSO director Dr. Ricardo Averbach, pushes him and the other students not only to use the right notes but also to dive deeper into music through analysis of its historical context.
He thanks his oboe professor Andrea Ridilla, who brought up the festival to him and prepared him, too. Always willing to offer her opinions, she let him go to the next level in his artistry and support his learning.


“Being a part of the orchestra here is an honor,” Kubesch said. “It has fueled my musical development.”

To congratulate or get in contact with Cole Kubesch, email kubescch@miamioh.edu.