Joshua Oates

Joshua Oates has recently returned to Australia to take up the role of Principal Oboe of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2020 season. He was a fellow with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2016 and 17, under the mentorship of Diana Doherty, Shefali Pryor, Alexandre Oguey and David Papp. In 2018, Joshua was a successful recipient of the prestigious Ian Potter grant, affording him the opportunity to pursue lessons and undertake auditions across Germany and Switzerland, which culminated in acceptance into the class of internationally acclaimed oboist Philippe Tondre in Saarbrücken, Germany as a Masters student. During his time in Germany, Joshua played in the theatre orchestras of Aachen, Düsseldorf and Saarbrücken, as well as guest principal with Cappella Aquileia in Heidenheim. He has also played as guest principal oboe in the Opera Australia Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Joshua’s undergraduate studies took place at the Elder Conservatorium of Music Adelaide with Celia Craig, where he graduated with first class honours. He won first prize in the John Davis classical music awards, joint second prize in the Australian Double Reed Society national competition and notably a Helpmann Prize for performance in 2013. In 2014, he was awarded an EMR scholarship to undertake an overseas study project, during which he had lessons with many of England and Germany’s leading oboists. Joshua has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra and the Unley Symphony Orchestra. He is also an avid chamber musician, and has collaborated with other artists regularly in Sydney and Adelaide and Germany.