Sebastian Gonzales, Oboist

Sebastian has been studying with Jocelyn Moore of Symphony in C for the past 6 years. He is a Freshman at Central High School in Philadelphia where he holds 1st chair in the Central orchestra and 1st chair in the Central chamber orchestra. After serving as principal oboist in the Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra for two years under the direction of Kenneth Bean, he was promoted to the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra under the direction of Roaslind Erwin. While attending Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) for middle school, Sebastian has held 1st chair in the GAMP Wind Ensemble, 1st chair in the Philadelphia All City middle school band, and 1st chair in the GAMP high school orchestra.

Sebastian was recently awarded a seat in the endowed Weinstein Advanced Study Woodwind Quintet at Settlement Music School. Prior to this appointment, he was a member of the endowed Shoenbach Woodwind Trio. After attending Kinhaven Music School of Vermont Junior session for two years, Sebastian was selected for the Senior summer session for 2019 where he studied with Mary Watt. During his time at Kinhaven, he was selected to perform in a woodwind quintet that opened for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and had the opportunity to study with Andrew Parker of the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin. To achieve his goal of becoming a well rounded musician, Sebastian applied for and was accepted into the Project 440 Doing Good entrepreneurship program with the goal of helping his community through music.

Sebastian has performed in both In C and Improvisionairies workshops with the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, participated in the National Youth Orchestra side by side rehearsal and performance, and performed at a press release for Councilwoman at Large Helen Gym regarding music education funding in Philadelphia public schools. He was chosen as a Second Place Winner of the American Protégé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition in 2018 and has been a proud member of the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth since 2017.

A significant turning point in Sebastian’s music career happened in 2017 when he was accepted as a member of the Primavera Fund. The Primavera Fund has given him the guidance and resources he needs to pursue his goal of attending a music conservatory after high school and eventually holding a position in a major orchestra.