Hugo Souza joined the Columbus Symphony as the acting principal oboe for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, officially assuming the role for the 2021-22 season. He continues to serve as principal oboe, actively participating in education and fundraising events since 2019.

​

Active as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, Hugo performs throughout Brazil, North America, and Europe. He has performed at Music@Menlo, with the Ensemble Pentaèdre, and toured with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed with the American Ballet Theatre (NYC), the American Symphony Orchestra (NYC) at the Bard Music Festival, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra at Chautauqua Institution.

​

Born into a musical family in Natal, Brazil, Hugo began playing oboe at fourteen. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), and his Master of Music degree from SUNY Purchase under the mentorship of Bert Lucarelli. He is a doctoral candidate at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.

​​

As an educator, Hugo serves on the faculty at Capital University’s Conservatory of Music, conducts master classes nationwide, coaches the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra’s oboe section, and teaches privately in his home studio. He previously held a three-year tenure track position at his alma mater in Natal, co-founding the Brazilian Double Reed Society.​

 

He resides in Columbus with his wife and two kids. Fun note: his kids love the oboe and play their oboes (recorders) with him every chance they get!