Alli Gessner plays and teaches oboe and English horn. She maintains an active teaching schedule of students aged 9-adult, and her students are her inspiration for her Oboe Auntie's tips videos on TikTok and Instagram. In May 2022 Alli launched her first online course “Switching to Oboe”. STO helps band students get started playing oboe quickly and with ease, and is built on over a decade of experience helping students switch to oboe.
Since her recent move to San Jose, CA, she’s performed with Bay Area groups including the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Oakland Symphony, Stockton Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Symphony Silicon Valley, and One Found Sound ensemble. From 2012-17 she held the Second Oboe and English Horn chair of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, along with frequent performances as substitute oboe and English horn for orchestras throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa.
Alli is also a passionate chamber musician. Recent performance highlights include “American Duos” an oboe duo livestream recital of music by living American composers, and a performance of “Concerto for Frenemies” a comedic, interactive performance centered on the Mozart Concertos for Flute and Oboe. She earned her Master’s in oboe performance from DePaul University, and a BA in oboe performance from Albion College. When not playing or teaching the oboe, Alli enjoys yoga, hiking, and watching or reading science fiction. Find Alli online @OboeAlli and @OboeAuntie