Brenda Schuman-Post is a daring and innovative oboe soloist and chamber musician known for her versatility. With her multi-instrumental ensemble, Sonic Forest, she performs a wide range of styles, from Baroque to Contemporary Classical, Jazz, Celtic, Klezmer, World Fusion, Traditional American, and the American Songbook, to original music and spontaneous improvisations, often emphasizing themes inspired by nature. She is the first musician to observe firsthand the entire process in East Africa, from the search and harvesting of the threatened tree used to make most woodwind instruments to the crafting of an oboe in Europe. Brenda shares her knowledge globally through lectures on "Harvesting the Music Tree: Sustainable African Blackwood" and "Oboes of the World," where she explores the cultural significance of the treble double reed and showcases her collection of non-Western oboes.
An award-winning educator, Brenda was named the 2023 Northern California Private Music Teacher of the Year. She is a free-lance orchestral player and recording artist in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her work is considered groundbreaking. Brenda has captivated diverse audiences, performing in venues that range from shopping malls to concert halls and engaging with under-served communities to make the oboe and its music accessible to all. Her musical accomplishments also include winning the Star Trek Idol Talent Search with her "Fantasy on Themes from Star Trek" improvisation, reflecting her ability to bring the oboe into unconventional spaces and popular culture.
