Kristen graduated in 2024 with her Master of Music degree in oboe performance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She will return to UNCG to begin her Doctor of Musical Arts degree studying Oboe Performance with Dr. Courtney Miller. Before this, she was a Louisville-based freelance oboist and a member of the community band Louisville Winds

 

Kristen earned her BME at Morehead State University where sat as first chair in the MSU Symphonic Winds and Concert Band. She was also a member of the MSU Oboe ensemble and The Royal Winds woodwind quintet. Kristen's primary teacher was Dr. Thomas Pappas, and she has performed for ensembles led by Drs., Wilson Wise, Joshua Smith, DuWayne Dale, Susan Creasap, Thomas Singletary, Amy Acklin, Fred Speck, W. Dale Warren, and Mr. Brad Rodgers. Kristen was also the recipient of the Mary Lynne Albers Memorial Scholarship in years 2017, 2018, and 2019.

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In her 12 years as an oboist, she has participated in many significant performances, most recently at the 2022 KMEA conference with the Louisville Winds. In her high school years, she performed at the 2012 KMEA conference, was a featured soloist in both her junior and senior years, and performed at Carnegie Hall. Her two most memorable experiences was being invited to participate in the 2016 Kentucky Ambassadors of Music to go on tour through Europe and performing as principle oboist with the 2020 Kentucky Intercollegiate Band.