people

Biography

William Welter was appointed Principal Oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Music Director Emeritus Riccardo Muti in June 2018 at the age of 24, making him the youngest principal oboist in the orchestra’s history. He debuted as a soloist with the CSO in March 2022, performing Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in C Major, and returned to perform again as a soloist in March 2024, this time alongside CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen, in Bach’s Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C Minor.

An accomplished and passionate chamber musician, Welter regularly performs with several esteemed ensembles, including Chicago’s Civitas Ensemble and Rambrendt Chamber Musicians. He has also performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, The New York  Philharmonic, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

In addition to his performing career, Welter is deeply committed to education. He serves on the faculty at both DePaul University and Roosevelt University and is a sought-after educator, regularly giving masterclasses at renowned institutions such as The Juilliard School, Oberlin College, Rice University, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.