Joshua de Graaf

It was at the age of three, that Josh first developed a love for the sound of the oboe - sympathising with the duck in Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. As inspiration grew, he took up the oboe at age twelve.

He commenced lessons with Neil Stafford, learning also with Anne Gilby and Eve Newsome whilst attending the Victorian College of the Arts (2001-04). Josh was then accepted into the Australian National Academy of Music (2005-06), studying with Jeffrey Crellin.

Josh's orchestral education was further enhanced by the Sydney Sinfonia, the Melbourne and Australian Youth Orchestras, and the Young Australian Concert Artists. He has performed in the oboe sections of most of Australia's professional orchestras and, in 2019, was invited to play with the Australian World Orchestra. Josh has been Associate Principal Oboe of Orchestra Victoria since 2007, and Acting Principal Oboe since mid-2018.

In addition to his orchestral work, Josh is a highly established teacher of oboe around Melbourne. Experienced in the teaching of all ages and abilities, he currently teaches at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and in a private studio capacity. He is also a regular guest teacher with organisations such as Melbourne Youth Orchestras, the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Australian National Academy of Music.

Josh lives with his wife, 4 children and an ever-changing assortment of animals in the Dandenong Ranges.