Mayu Isom *

English Horn

In Memory of John S. Hodge

Mayu Isom *
Wave

Bio

Mayu Isom is joining the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as Acting Assistant Principal Oboe and English Horn for the 2024-25 Season. Mayu also holds the position of Second Oboe and English Horn for the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Third Oboe for the Houston Ballet Orchestra in Houston, Texas.

Mayu has served as Acting Principal with these Houston-based orchestras and has also been asked to appear as guest Principal with the San Antonio Philharmonic, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the Amarillo Symphony. Other orchestral credits include the Houston Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and the former San Antonio Symphony. Mayu has also been featured as a soloist numerous times with the Houston Ballet Orchestra, performing English horn on Aaron Copland’s “Quiet City” and Stanton Welch’s “Orange”, featuring multiple Vivaldi oboe concertos.

Prior to her position in Houston, Mayu resided in Boston where she studied with John Ferrillo and Anne Marie Gabriele at Boston University. While in Boston, Mayu was named the winner of the Ralph Gomberg Merit Award Competition through the Boston Woodwind Society. Mayu earned her Master of Music degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where she studied under Robert Atherholt. She received her Bachelor of Music degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University as a Jacobs Scholar under the tutelage of Linda Strommen and Roger Roe.

As a student, Mayu was invited to perform at a number of summer festivals, including the Spoleto Festival USA, the Music Academy of the West, and the National Repertory Orchestra.

* Contract