Assistant Principal Oboe Brian Ventura began his post with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in December 1988. He received his bachelor’s degree in Oboe Performance from the University of Lowell in Massachusetts and worked on his master’s degree at the New England Conservatory.
Prior to his Detroit appointment, Ventura served as oboe and English horn player with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, Principal Oboe of the Omaha Symphony, and oboist with the Louisville Orchestra.
Ventura has served as Substitute Principal Oboe with the Boston Symphony Orchestra – at Symphony Hall in Boston, Tanglewood, and on tour. With the Boston Symphony he performed on Leonard Bernstein’s final concert, and the recording of that performance.
Among the summer festivals Ventura has participated in as oboist are the Grand Teton Music Festival, Shreveport Summer Music Festival, Lake George Opera Festival, and the Colorado Philharmonic. As a concerto soloist, he has performed with the Omaha Symphony, Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Philharmonic, Shreveport Festival, Dearborn Symphony, and Wayne State Wind Ensemble. When not performing with the DSO, Ventura enjoys playing chamber music locally and has performed with the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings. He is also the oboe instructor at Wayne State University and teaches oboe privately.