Izaiah Cheeran
Oboe
Eighteen-year-old oboist Izaiah Cheeran is a passionate performer who focuses on elevating the music of composers from historically marginalized peoples. He is currently a pupil of Katherine Needleman and Philippe Tondre at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, which he entered in 2022.
Cheeran has performed in numerous masterclasses and recitals nationwide and is the winner of the 2023 Minnesota Orchestra Young People’s Symphony Concert Association’s Concerto Competition. He has also received first-place awards in the Schubert Club Bruce P. Carlson Competition and Thursday Musical Young Artist Competition. More recently, he appeared as a guest artist on the National Public Radio program From the Top, which is slated to air in February of 2024.
As an orchestral player, Cheeran has performed with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and Carnegie Hall’s NYO2 and NYO-USA. His orchestral career has led to performances at Carnegie Hall, Groton Hill Music Center, the Rady Shell, the Royal Concertgebouw, Teatro Antico di Taormina, Ravello Festival, Festival de Lanaudière, Young Euro Classic and the Lucerne Festival.
A native of Minnesota, Cheeran began playing the oboe at age 10 studying under Dr. Carrie Vecchione and additionally with Cassie Pilgrim. When not practicing or making reeds, you can find him exploring Philadelphia or pouring latte art.