Kristin Sarvela

Kristin Sarvela serves as Assistant Professor of Oboe and Music Theory at Sam Houston State University's School of Music, a position she assumed in Fall 2021. Previously, she held teaching positions at Eastern Illinois University as Instructor of Oboe and Music Theory, and at the University of Illinois at Springfield as Instructor of Oboe.

Dr. Sarvela's educational background includes:

• Bachelor's degree in Oboe Performance (2012) from the University of Illinois with a Minor in Mathematics
• Master's degree in Oboe Performance (2014) from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University with a Minor in Music History
• Doctor of Musical Arts in Oboe Performance and Literature (2017) from the University of Illinois with a Cognate in Musicology

Dr. Sarvela's research and performance interests center around oboe performance and music theory, with a particular focus on contemporary Finnish composers. Her doctoral research examined "The Oboe Compositions of Kalevi Aho, Riikka Talvitie, and Osmo Tapio Räihälä." As an active performer, she has held principal oboe positions with the Camerata Sinfonietta and Danville Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with numerous prestigious ensembles including Opera in the Heights and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra. Her performance experience extends to major venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and she has collaborated with renowned artists including Menahem Pressler and Emmanuel Ax.

Dr. Sarvela is deeply committed to music education and has extensive experience teaching sectionals, master classes, and private lessons throughout the Midwest and Texas. She has been actively involved with several music education programs including the Bocal Majority Summer Double Reed Camp, Eastern Music Camp, and University of Illinois Double Reed Camp. Her dedication to pedagogy is further evidenced by her presentations at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Illinois Music Educators Conference, and International Double Reed Society Convention.

In addition to her primary instruments (oboe and English horn), Dr. Sarvela is proficient on piano and explores historical wind instruments including the Baroque oboe, shawm, and harp. Her diverse musical background and performance experience inform her comprehensive approach to music education at Sam Houston State University.