Kristie Liao, a West Windsor resident and a junior at Lawrenceville School, has been chosen to attend the New Jersey Governor’s School of the Arts at the College of New Jersey in Ewing this summer. Liao, an oboist, was nominated by Kevin Smith, Lawrenceville’s director of instrumental studies.##M:[more]##
“I was very excited when I found out that I got in because of the chance to work with great faculty and to meet other artists,” says Liao. “I hope that through the Governor’s School I can improve musically and expand my appreciation for the work of other artists, too.”
At Lawrenceville, Liao plays first oboe in the Collegium Lawrenceville Orchestra, the Community Orchestra, the Pit Orchestra, and the Wind Ensemble. She has been a member of the Youth Orchestra of New Jersey for six years, and has also performed with the New Jersey Region II High School Orchestra, Band, and Wind Ensemble. This year she placed first overall in Central New Jersey for oboe and auditioned successfully for the All-State Symphonic Band and Orchestra.
While the oboe is her favorite instrument, Liao’s musical talent extends to piano, English horn, and guitar. She spends close to 10 hours practicing her music every week.
“My favorite instrument, of course, is the oboe because of its gorgeous tone color,” she says. “Music is filled with endless possibilities. I think that oboe has a beautiful range of expression to capture what’s on the page. Also, because oboe is part of the orchestra and band, I love the chance to have fun playing with other musicians.”
She enjoys playing both solo and orchestral pieces. “My favorite composers include Tchaikovsky and Camille Saint-Saens because their works are so imaginative,” she says. “I like listening to a little bit of everything, from classical music to bluegrass like the Old Crow Medicine Show, to artists like Switchfoot, John Mayer, Coldplay, and Dave Matthews Band.”
