Last December, Tianjin Juilliard oboe faculty Mingjia Liu and Juilliard oboe faculty Elaine Douvas held the first ever Oboe Day on Tianjin Juilliard's campus. The event drew over 150 participants, including young oboists, parents, educators from all over China. Across nine hours of master classes, our faculty worked with 24 students, offering an opportunity to engage with Juilliard’s pedagogical approach firsthand.
“Oboe Day was a meaningful educational initiative where we shared the the pedagogical system of Juilliard, as it relates to oboe playing, with a Chinese audience,” said Liu. In working across Juilliard campuses in New York and Tianjin, Liu emphasized the importance of taking a variety of influences into his teaching, giving students a well-rounded artistic foundation.
Combining technical and musical instruction, the faculty highlighted the expressive possibilities of the instrument and provided young musicians with invaluable tools for shaping their sound and artistry.
"I worked with the students on how to sound more like a singer," said Elaine Douvas. "More legato was needed from both the air and the fingers. A gentle, rolling, or 'spongey' movement of the fingers sounds more buoyant and flowing than clicking the fingers into place."
The success of the event affirms Tianjin Juilliard’s commitment to shaping the next generation of musicians through rigorous training, artistic mentorship, and cultural exchange. Liu, emphasizing the importance of these unique collaborative experiences, added, "Elaine and I collaborated seamlessly, embodying the 'one school, two campuses' philosophy and demonstrating the extraordinary value of studying here with our faculty."