Isabel Kent

Isabel Francesca Kastavunis Kent started playing the piano at the age of 7 and the oboe at the age of 8. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior department for 5 years under the tutorage of Stephen West for oboe and Marika Slater for piano. During this time she won the prestigious concerto competition and performed the Cimarosa Oboe Concerto with the symphony orchestra at the conservatoire. After gaining a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Isabel has been on many UK tours with them. She was fortunate enough to tour China with the orchestra and play in The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Isabel was given the Gladys Braton scholarship to study oboe on the BMus(hons) course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and received a first class degree when she graduated in 2019 as well as the Beryl Maggs prize for wind instruments. During her time at Trinity Laban she won the Harold Clarke woodwind competition, the Evelyn Rothwell oboe competition as well as being awarded the prize for ‘the most deserving woodwind player’. Isabel has enjoyed playing in many chamber groups and orchestras around London including Young Musician’s Symphony Orchestra, London International Sinfonia, London Sylvan Ensemble and the NIA trio. Last year she performed the Albinoni Double Oboe Concerto with London International Sinfonia as well as the Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto with City of Carlisle Symphony Orchestra. In September 2019, Isabel started her MA course at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage or Celia Nicklin and Ian Hardwick.