Oboist, Gustav Highstein studied under the direction of Richard Woodhams at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His other major teachers were Alfred Genovese, Lois Wann, and John Ferrillo. He is a member of the Knights Chamber Orchestra and has played with them since 2012. He is also currently a member of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. He was Principal Oboist of the Richmond Symphony from 2003-2016. He has held the positions of acting Principal Oboe of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and English Horn of the Minnesota Orchestra. He has also appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestras.Highstein has been the music director of the Eckhart Ensemble since 2011. He has led this ensemble as a conductor and participated as an oboist and organizer. As a conductor, Highstein has also led concerts for the Roosevelt Island Chamber Concerts and opera performances with Capital Opera Richmond. Coming from a family of musicians, he played regularly with his brother, mother, and grandmother growing up. Through music, he has had the chance to travel the world, playing in a variety of countries from Japan to France, from Scandinavia to Switzerland, and throughout the United States. Highstein also holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Yale University.