KRISTINE MERTENS, oboist
A native of Normal, Illinois, Kristine Mertens switched from French horn to oboe in grade school and has not looked back. Kristine received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Northern Illinois University. She studied oboe with Judith Zunamon Lewis, Ricardo Casteñada, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra English Hornist Grover Schiltz. Kristine currently performs as principal of the Fox Valley Philharmonic. She also performs with the Rockford Wind Ensemble and The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Previously she has performed with the Illinois Valley Philharmonic Orchestra and the Missouri Symphony. In addition to her performance schedule, Kristine teaches elementary music in the Sycamore School district and is president of the Fox Valley Orff Schulwerk Chapter. She also continues to teach private lessons in the DeKalb-Sycamore area. Kristine resides in Sycamore with her husband Scott and a few sassy felines.