Pamela Hakl was featured as a recent soloist with Symphony Silicon Valley where she regularly plays principal oboe. Additionally, she is a member of the orchestra for Opera San José. Before that, she served as principal oboe with the former San Jose Symphony for twenty-two years. Ms. Hakl teaches privately in Palo Alto. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music from Indiana University.
Pamela answered a few questions about her life as a musician:
How old were you when you first started playing the oboe? I was ten and in the fourth grade. I started in the school band in Homewood, IL. They didn't normally start students on the oboe but I was tall and my hands could stretch to reach the keys.
Why did you choose the oboe? My father had said, "You should play the oboe because no one else does." Of course, this isn't true but I always knew I wanted to play the oboe.
What is your favorite piece of music? Ironically it doesn't have an oboe in it: the Schubert Cello Quintet.
What is your proudest moment? I think this past weekend playing the Albinoni Oboe Concerto #5 with Symphony Silicon Valley. My family and friends were in the audience. A friend even flew in from New Jersey.
What is the hardest thing you have ever had to do? Well, playing the Albinoni wasn't easy but I think the continual task of making good reeds in the hardest thing to do. All month long I had been preparing reeds for this weekend. Then Saturday afternoon the weather turned and none of my favorite reeds were working. I was in a real panic. Luckily, I found one in the back of the box; I don't know if it was old or new. It just worked.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you on stage? It was a performance of Schubert Symphony #5 and the conductor got confused and stopped conducting halfway through the first movement. He must have thought it was over because he started the second movement. Shortly into the second movement you could see in his eyes the realization that he hadn't finished the first movement.
What would you do if you weren't a musician? I love to knit and I love yarn. I guess I would own a knitting store.
What advice would you give young musicians? Participate in music because you love it and not because your parents push you. If you really love it, then do the hard work and don't give up.
Where can the public hear you next? All month I will be performing the Nutcracker with the San Jose Ballet at the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose.
Comments
Pam was at her very best playing the Albinoni Concerto. The ornamentation was superb, sound was sweet, dynamics were breathtaking, and her composure was inspiring. It's one thing to sit in the orchestra, and completely different to be up front as a soloist. The whole concert was magical.
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