Hailed by the New York Times for her “magnificently sweet tone,” oboist Keve Wilson would skip music theory and history as a kid to practice Irish jigs and reels instead. Currently oboist for the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are, playing at The Shed in NYC, Keve recently wrapped up production on Broadway as oboist for the celebrated revival of Company. Other Broadway shows she’s held chairs in are Carousel with Renee Fleming as well as the 2014 Tony Winner A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Keve inspires visiting high school band and orchestra students from around the country with her original show Believe NYC---from the Band Room to Broadway. A past winner of Concert Artists Guild and solo oboist with the Grammy nominated Absolute Ensemble, she has performed in Amsterdam, Argentina, Austria, Dubai, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Panama, New Zealand, Sicily, and South Korea. A two-time recipient of the Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant, Keve traveled to Makuleke Village in South Africa where she participated in learning and teaching folk songs of the region. She plays oboe for Encores! at City Center and has recorded for Bruce Springsteen, Miguel Zenon and 2 modern versions of Bird with Strings. Keve performed the Bach Double Concerto for oboe and violin with celebrated violinist Eugene Drucker to ring in the New Year in 2023.In May 2024 Keve plays the New York premiere of Ruth Gipps’s Oboe Concerto with the Broadway Bach Ensemble.

Keve has performed at numerous music festivals including Newport Jazz Festival with Miguel Zenon, New Zealand Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, Bremen Music Fest, Mostly Mozart Festival in San Luis Obispo, Swannanoa Chamber Music, The Tanglewood Music Center, Juneau Jazz and Classics and many others. She has performed as principal oboist with many ensembles, including American Sinfonietta, Alarm Will Sound, Absolute Ensemble, American Modern Ensemble, On-Site Opera, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and San Diego Symphony. Keve has given college Networking Skills Masterclasses to such institutions as University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, University of Miami-Frost School of Music, SUNY Fredonia, NYU, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina/Greensboro, SUNY Crane, Michigan State, Vanderbilt University, McGill University, and at festivals including New Music on the Point, NYU Summer Intensive, National Young Arts and Mostly Modern Festival. She spent 6 years in Los Angeles as 2nd oboist of Opera Pacific, recorded for TV commercials and films, and premiered After Hearing Bach by Peter Schickele for oboe and string quartet.

During the pandemic, Keve performed numerous shows with her duo partner and childhood friend Rachel Handman along with their band. The group played at the Javits Center every Sunday for vaccinations as well as at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Chelsea Table & Stage, The Culinary Institute of America, Margate Music Festival, and at Mt. Sinai in NYC. Their album The Catskill Sessions was released on NAXOS in 2023.

From Hyde Park, NY and a graduate of Eastman School of Music, Keve studied oboe with Richard Killmer, piano with Judith Handman and dance with Elizabeth Clark. She lives in New York City with her husband Kerry and Portuguese water dog Bugsy.

NYC Projects

Keve has performed as a member of Encores!, the American Modern Ensemble, Bridge Arts Ensemble, Concerts in Motion, On-Site Opera, and many other organizations. She can be heard on tour around the world with the Grammy Nominated Absolute Ensemble.

Rachel & Keve

The Catskill Sessions

Released on CCR/NAXOS

Available on all streaming platforms

featuring: HIdayat Honari-guitar, Marc Schmied-bass, Mike Ramsey, drums

“Seeing them perform is a total battery recharge. The joy they find in playing with each other and re-inventing/re-creating music that most of us have long taken for granted is so inspiring." 

-Shelagh Abate

Broadway

Keve recently wrapped up production on Broadway in the Skypit of Company by Stephen Sondheim. She was the oboist in the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel at the Imperial Theater as well as the TONY Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder in 2014.