Luca Ortolani
About
Luca Ortolani is a Canadian oboist recognized for his thoughtful musicianship and versatility across solo, orchestral, and chamber settings. He has performed with ensembles including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, the Tianjin Symposium Festival Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie.
As a soloist, he has recently performed works such as Vivaldi’s Double Oboe Concerto and Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto, as well as solo recitals in Ottawa, Toronto, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles.
Equally at home in chamber music, Luca has been featured in concert series, including the Colburn Chamber Music Society, the Next Generation Series with Concert Nova, The Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas, Ottawa Chamberfest, and the Kingston Road Brandenburg Project.
He is grateful to have received several distinctions in support of his artistic growth, including the 2025 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award, the 2024 National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary, the 2024 Sturdevant Prize for Orchestra Excerpts, the 2022 Louise Schaefer Wilshire Scholarship (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), and the 2022 Vic Pomer Award from the National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition. He was also named one of CBC Music’s “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30” in 2024.
Luca completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, studying with Sarah Jeffrey, and earned his master’s at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Titus Underwood. Luca is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at The Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he studies with Eugene Izotov.
lucaortolani.ca
Teaching Style
Our primary objective during our time together is to equip every student with a comprehensive understanding of technical and artistic mastery on the oboe or English horn. To facilitate significant progress, I will collaborate with you to develop a strategic and efficient practice regimen tailored to your individual needs.
Curriculum
A. M. R. Barret Method for Oboe, Ferling 48 studies, Gillet Scale Studies Gillet Gammes Et Etudes. For scales, we will use the first 8 pages of the Vade-Mecum and scale patterns I will provide depending on the student’s level.
For reeds, Students should own all the tools to form and finish reeds. This will include, but not be limited to: a knife, plaque, staples, string and beeswax (or other standard means of sealing the reed), and cane. Other tools are recommended, but not required.
Credentials & Affiliations
Masters of Music Performance - Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music - Class of 2024 Bachelors in Music Performance - University of Toronto - Class of 2022 Vic Pomer Prize Louise Schaefer Wilshire Scholarship Anna Margaret Wallace and Willam Alexander McCoy Scholarship Le Prix d’excellence artistique