“Metropolitan Opera Orchestra principal oboe Nathan Hughes has been named to the same key position with the Minnesota Orchestra,” writes Susan Elliott in Thursday’s (6/30) Musical America (subscription required). “The St. Paul, MN, native starts officially at his new band’s New Year’s celebrations, Dec. 31, 2022 and Jan. 1, 2023, and will also participate in its November recording sessions of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Last fall he served for three months as interim, when Minnesota’s principal John Snow retired. Hughes is also on the faculty of Juilliard and will remain so. He is one of outgoing Music Director Osmo Vänskä’s final appointments…. Hughes, who grew up listening to this orchestra, said he felt ‘so warmly welcomed’ when he played with the group and noted the support the orchestra received from its surrounding community. He is the former principal oboe of the Seattle Symphony and has recorded and toured as guest principal with the major orchestras of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. He is also an active chamber artist and has led oboe masterclasses at major international conservatories. In other MET Orchestra news, Brad Gemeinhardt has moved up to the position of principal horn.”
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