Amy Kesler

Born into a large, musical family in 1978 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Amy Brough Kesler began piano studies with her grandmother at the age of 6.  At the recommendation of her grandmother, she began playing the oboe at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Holly Gornik, then oboist and solo English horn player of the Utah Symphony.   Just three years later, Amy placed in her first competition, and four years later, she was selected to make her solo debut with the Utah Symphony on their annual “Salute to Youth” concert, performing the first movement of Haydn’s Oboe Concerto.  Of this performance, Deseret News Music Critic, William Goodfellow wrote, “Here its robust introduction paved the way for some fluid and well controlled solo work by 14-year-old Amy Brough, whose artful cadenza was a particular delight.”

Amy continued to study with Holly Gornik throughout High School.  She attended the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California as a full scholarship student for 3 summers, where she studied with Harry Sargous, then oboe professor at the University of Michigan.  Amy continued her studies under Harry Sargous, as well as Alex Klein and Brian Ventura, at the University of Michigan as a full out-of-state tuition scholarship student and received her Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance with high honors.  She has also attending the National Orchestral Institute in College Park, Maryland, and the Blossom Chamber Music Festival in Ohio, where she studied with John Mack.

She has gone on to perform with the Utah Symphony on two other occasions, including the “All-Star Salute to Youth”concert held in 2000.  In addition, Amy has been invited to perform as soloist with many other orchestras, including  the Macomb (Michigan) Symphony, the University of Michigan Chamber Orchestra (on two occasions), the Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra (Santa Barbara, California), Westminster Chamber Orchestra (Salt Lake City, Utah), and the Utah Youth Symphony.