William Welter was appointed Principal Oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti in June 2018. He made his debut as soloist with the Orchestra in March 2022, performing Mozart’s Oboe Concerto under the baton of Dame Jane Glover. Prior to his appointment to the CSO, Welter performed as a guest musician with the Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and as guest principal oboe of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Welter was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and participated in several esteemed music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Bravo Vail Festival, and Music Academy of the West. He also participated in Music from Angelfire by invitation of violinist Ida Kavafian.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska and raised in Crescent, Iowa, William Welter is a 2016 graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Woodhams, the longtime Principal Oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Welter completed an Artist Diploma at the Oberlin Conservatory under the instruction of Robert Walters. His other teachers include Eugene Izotov and Christopher Philpotts. Welter is an alumnus of the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied with Daniel Stolper.
