Eleanor Alford, Oboist

About Eleanor

Eleanor Alford is a British-American oboist based in Glasgow, UK.  

She currently studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, under Peter Dykes, the Associate Principal Oboist of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Eleanor is passionate about connection through her music and is striving to build more understanding and empathy through her music. She is also in a wind quintet through the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, hoping to share the joy of chamber music with younger people. 

During her time in the US, Eleanor played with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra for 3 years, and has performed with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on the Heinz Hall Main Stage, performing works such as Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, and Richard Strauss’ Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59. She studied under Max Blair, the Associate Principal Oboist for the Pittsburgh Symphony for 3 years. Eleanor has also performed alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony on the Heinz Hall Main Stage through their Side by Side Program, with Maestro Moon Doh. 

Eleanor also has experience playing at events. Both on her own and also with other musicians. Book Eleanor for your event here.

In her endeavors for a more connected musical community, Eleanor is the creator and host of the Confident Musicianing Podcast which explores insightful strategies and offers meaningful encouragement for auditioning and practicing for high school/university music students. Eleanor often supplements her podcast episodes with guides and downloads that listeners can access to support their journey. On her podcast, Eleanor has interviewed guests, such as Maestro Jacob Joyce, the Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony; Max Blair, the Assoicate Principal Oboist of the Pittsburgh Symphony; and Nathalia Kato Giordano, a professor of voice and collaborative pianist at Duquesne University. 

She has built a musical community on Instagram of over 54,000 people, sharing her journey as an oboist studying at a conservatoire.

Eleanor was recently part of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s production of Haydn’s opera L’infidelta Delusa. Eleanor has also appeared in other Royal Conservatoire of Scotland concerts such a the Wind Orchestra.