Oboist Richard Woodhams was born into a musical family in Palo Alto, California. Prior to his current post as Principal Oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Woodhams held the same position with the Saint Louis Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. His chamber music appearances include collaborations with pianists Christoph Eschenbach, Andre Watts and Emanuel Ax, as well as with violinist Itzhak Perlman. Mr. Woodhams has served on the Curtis Institute faculty since 1985 and the Aspen Music Festival and School since 2000.