Melanie Rothman

British Oboist Melanie Rothman serves as Professor of Oboe at the Royal College of Music, London since 2024, while maintaining an active position as a member of the world-renowned Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. She previously held principal oboe positions with the Hessen State Theatre Orchestra Wiesbaden and the Duisburg Philharmonic/German Opera of the Rhein before joining the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2022.

Education:

• Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris (CRR) under Nora Cismondi
• Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP) under David Walter - Bachelor with honors (2015)
• Universität Mozarteum Salzburg under Professor Stefan Schilli - Master's in Oboe Performance with honors (2018)
• HDMK Stuttgart under Professor Christian Schmitt - Soloist postgraduate degree with honors (2021)
• Ensemble Modern Academy member (2018-19)

Melanie Rothman specializes in multiple areas of woodwind performance. Her primary focus is contemporary oboe repertoire, having performed world premieres of works by Leonardo Marino and Sean Shepherd. She maintains a deep interest in historical performance practice, having studied baroque oboe extensively with Alfredo Bernardini, Rafael Palacios, and Katharina Spreckelsen. Additionally, she is a passionate advocate for the Northumbrian Smallpipes, a traditional bagpipe from Northeast England, where she serves as a national prize-winner and committee member of the Northumbrian Pipers' Society.

Professional Recognition:

• Royal Academy of Music Leila Bull Oboe Prize (2010)
• Isle of Man Bank Prize at the Barbirolli Oboe Competition (2014)
• Woodwind semi-finalist, International Tchaikovsky Competition (2019)
• Finalist, Virtual Oboe Competition (2020)
• 1st Grand Prize Winner, IDRS Gillet-Fox International Oboe Competition (2021)

As an educator at the Royal College of Music, Professor Rothman draws upon her extensive orchestral experience, having performed as guest principal oboist with major European ensembles including the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Frankfurt Opera and Museums Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, and Ensemble Modern. Her performance career spans solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works, including concerti by Bach, Martinu, and Francesconi with orchestras such as the Royal Northern Sinfonia at prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall and St. John's Smith Square.