Dr. Kari Kistler joined the Charleston Symphony as Second Oboe & English Horn in the 2011-12 season. Prior to her appointment, she was a Fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. During her tenure at New World Symphony, Dr. Kistler worked with founder and artistic director Michael Tilson Thomas as well as many other accomplished conductors and soloists.

Some recent highlights of her career include performing the English horn solos from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 and Ravel’s Piano Concerto (featuring Jean-Yves Thibaudet), as well as playing Principal Oboe in Ariadne auf Naxos under the baton of Christoph von Dohnanyi at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2010.

In addition to attending the prestigious Tanglewood Music Festival, Dr. Kistler also studied at the Music Academy of the West, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Festival. Dr. Kistler received her Bachelors of Music and Doctor of Music degrees from Florida State University, her Masters of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and her Performance Diploma from Boston University. She studied primarily with John Ferrillo, John Mack, and Dr. Eric Ohlsson.

Dr. Kistler has given master classes at Florida State University as well as the University of Georgia, and taught oboe at the New England Music Camp in the summer of 2012. She teaches oboe at Charleston Southern University, as well as privately in the greater Charleston community.

When not playing the oboe, she can be spotted on her red Novarra bicycle riding all around town, and bringing her love and knowledge of organic farming, recycling, and composting to the community.