Sponsored by Beverly & Barry Williams
Alex Kinmonth was appointed Principal Oboe of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra by
Leonard Slatkin in 2015 at the age of twenty one, at the time making him one of the youngest
Principal musicians in a major American orchestra. He can be heard on the DSO’s most recent
“Live from Orchestra Hall” recordings of Copland’s Third Symphony, the Brahms Symphonies
and Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies 1, 2, 4, and 6. He also makes regular solo appearances with the
DSO and other orchestras across the country, most recently performing the Strauss, Mozart, and
John Williams concertos. Kinmonth earned his Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Nathan Hughes of the Metropolitan Opera and graduated with the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music.
Leonard Slatkin in 2015 at the age of twenty one, at the time making him one of the youngest
Principal musicians in a major American orchestra. He can be heard on the DSO’s most recent
“Live from Orchestra Hall” recordings of Copland’s Third Symphony, the Brahms Symphonies
and Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies 1, 2, 4, and 6. He also makes regular solo appearances with the
DSO and other orchestras across the country, most recently performing the Strauss, Mozart, and
John Williams concertos. Kinmonth earned his Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Nathan Hughes of the Metropolitan Opera and graduated with the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music.
Kinmonth is also Principal Oboe of the Britt Festival Orchestra which he joined in
2019, and has recently played as Guest Principal with the New York Philharmonic, the Grant
Park Festival Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the Bellingham Festival
Orchestra. He has also substituted in the Metropolitan Opera on both oboe and English horn, and
in the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra. During recent summers, he has participated in
the Classical Tahoe Festival, Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, CA and the Sun Valley
Summer Symphony in Idaho. In previous summers he has attended the Tanglewood Music
Festival, Music Academy of the West, the Round Top Institute, and the Aspen Festival, where he
received a fellowship in 2014. He also participated in the prestigious New York String Orchestra
Seminar at Carnegie Hall in 2013. Kinmonth is also a winner of the Professional Musicians Club of
Boston’s award for “Outstanding Achievement.”
2019, and has recently played as Guest Principal with the New York Philharmonic, the Grant
Park Festival Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the Bellingham Festival
Orchestra. He has also substituted in the Metropolitan Opera on both oboe and English horn, and
in the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra. During recent summers, he has participated in
the Classical Tahoe Festival, Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, CA and the Sun Valley
Summer Symphony in Idaho. In previous summers he has attended the Tanglewood Music
Festival, Music Academy of the West, the Round Top Institute, and the Aspen Festival, where he
received a fellowship in 2014. He also participated in the prestigious New York String Orchestra
Seminar at Carnegie Hall in 2013. Kinmonth is also a winner of the Professional Musicians Club of
Boston’s award for “Outstanding Achievement.”
Now deeply involved in Detroit’s classical music scene, Kinmonth enjoys performing with
local chamber groups including the Chamber Soloist of Detroit and the Detroit Chamber Winds
and Strings, where he is a core member. His interest in chamber music has also brought him
around the country, performing with groups such as the Olmos Society in San Antonio. He has
also found a love for teaching and coaching, starting a private studio and leading orchestral
sectionals for local orchestras such as the DSO’s Civic Youth Ensembles and the Detroit Medical
Orchestra. Kinmonth has held masterclasses for several schools including Interlochen,
Bowling Green State University, the University of Alabama, Saginaw Valley State University,
and the Cranbrook School. Growing into the digital age, he has participated in virtual festivals
and masterclasses for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute and the Juilliard
Summer Winds series, and teaches reed making online by video.
local chamber groups including the Chamber Soloist of Detroit and the Detroit Chamber Winds
and Strings, where he is a core member. His interest in chamber music has also brought him
around the country, performing with groups such as the Olmos Society in San Antonio. He has
also found a love for teaching and coaching, starting a private studio and leading orchestral
sectionals for local orchestras such as the DSO’s Civic Youth Ensembles and the Detroit Medical
Orchestra. Kinmonth has held masterclasses for several schools including Interlochen,
Bowling Green State University, the University of Alabama, Saginaw Valley State University,
and the Cranbrook School. Growing into the digital age, he has participated in virtual festivals
and masterclasses for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute and the Juilliard
Summer Winds series, and teaches reed making online by video.
Kinmonth grew up in a musical household in Carlisle, MA, choosing to play violin at age 5
and oboe at age 9. From a young age, he has pursued orchestral, solo, and chamber music
interests, playing with the Boston Youth Symphony, the New York Youth Symphony, and
winning awards from the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association,
Philharmonic Society of Arlington, and Concord (MA) Orchestra. His former teachers include
John Ferrillo and Laura Ahlbeck. Although music is the main focus of his life, he also enjoys
a balance of athletic, social, and academic interests. He participated in the 2010 National Junior
Olympics for fencing, and enjoys soccer, rock climbing, and downhill mountain biking. He is
also the winner of a National Gold Key Award in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards’ Short
Story category.
and oboe at age 9. From a young age, he has pursued orchestral, solo, and chamber music
interests, playing with the Boston Youth Symphony, the New York Youth Symphony, and
winning awards from the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association,
Philharmonic Society of Arlington, and Concord (MA) Orchestra. His former teachers include
John Ferrillo and Laura Ahlbeck. Although music is the main focus of his life, he also enjoys
a balance of athletic, social, and academic interests. He participated in the 2010 National Junior
Olympics for fencing, and enjoys soccer, rock climbing, and downhill mountain biking. He is
also the winner of a National Gold Key Award in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards’ Short
Story category.