Matthew Awad

Matthew Awad is a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. This will be his second year as a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Matthew has been involved with music from an early age, starting with piano in elementary school. In fifth grade, Matthew started playing the clarinet in his school’s music program and switched to the oboe in sixth grade. Matthew loves the oboe for its beautiful, angelic sound and its role as a solo instrument in many pieces. In middle school, Matthew was excited to play with the All-Suburban Honors Band, and last year, he received an Exemplary rating at the Solo and Ensemble Festival. He also enjoys playing the alto saxophone in his high school’s jazz band and as a member of Lehde’s Night Jazz Ensemble.

Matthew would not be where he is today without the help and guidance of his countless mentors and supporters. Matthew would like to give special thanks to his private teacher Cathy Woelbling-Paul, as well as his elementary school music teacher Timothy Hearn, middle school band directors Katie Solomon and Betsy Cytron, and high school band instructors Aaron Lehde, Jason Harris, and Lucas Alberts. He would also like to thank his family for their unwavering support.

Besides playing the oboe, Matthew enjoys playing tennis and is active in Boy Scouts, having earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2021. He has also competed on his school’s Science Olympiad and Science Bowl teams, placing in the top 15 at the National Science Olympiad Competition and in the top 4 at the National Science Bowl Competition.