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Virginia McDowell
Education:
Master of Music – Rice University Shepherd School of Music
Post-baccalaureate Diploma – Curtis Institute of Music
Bachelor of Music – Oberlin Conservatory
Virginia McDowell currently resides in New Orleans where she’s Principal Oboe with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. She has previously served as guest Principal Oboe of the Cleveland Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the San Antonio Symphony. Her summer festival appearances include the Pacific Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, National Repertory Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Round Top Festival Institute, Sarasota Music Festival, and the Colorado College Music Festival.
Virginia is the featured soloist on the premiere recording of Theo Chandler’s Oboe Concerto written for her in 2019 which is available on all streaming platforms. She was a winner of the Colorado College Music Festival Concerto Competition and of the Oberlin Danenberg Honors Recital competition in addition to being named as a finalist in both the Matthew Ruggiero International Woodwind Competition and the Oberlin Conservatory Concerto Competition. In 2017, Virginia was featured in a performance and interview on an episode of “On Stage at Curtis” on WHYY.
She received a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory, a post-baccalaureate diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a Master’s Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Virginia is very grateful for the never-ending support of her wonderful teachers: Robert Atherholt, Richard Woodhams, Robert Walters, Colin Gatwood, and Erik Behr. When she is not practicing or whittling away at her reed desk, Virginia enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, biking to City Park, playing games with her friends, and spending quality time with her chatty cat, Lilly.
