A world-renowned oboist, Gordon Hunt has developed an active conducting career, having led orchestras in Sweden, Denmark and South Africa, among others. On Saturday, he will conduct Redlands Symphony Orchestra at Memorial Chapel on the University of Redlands campus as the third of three candidates to audition to replace conductor Jon Robertson.
“Conducting is a very complete way of making music,” Hunt said in a recent interview. “In many ways, it is the deepest way to make music. It gives the complete palette of colors at one’s disposal. With only one instrument, the player is very limited.”
Hunt serves as principal oboist of the Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra of London and London Chamber Orchestra and appears regularly as soloist with international ensembles.
“After years of making music on the oboe, conducting is a liberation,” Hunt said. “It means not having to make music myself, but rather in a different mode. The orchestra is not an extension of myself, it’s completely different. As a conductor, I’m not making a sound, I’m not feeling that physical sensation one feels when playing an instrument. So, without the physical contact with the sound, I must find other ways to experience the sound the musicians are making.”

RTWT