Biography

Julie Stafford is a dynamic oboist and dedicated music education with an active presence in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, as well as Sydney, Australia. She currently holds positions with the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, and performs with the Tucson Pops Orchestra. Julie has also been a featured soloist with the Green Valley Concert Band and frequently collaborates as a pit musician in musical theatre productions, where she showcases her versatility on clarinet, saxophone, and flute.

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In addition to maintaining a high-level oboe studio, Julie has extensive teaching experience across various educational settings, including primary general music, middle school band, orchestra, and classical guitar ensembles. She is the founder of the Tucson Area Independent Middle School Honor Band, in which she also manages and directs. Additionally, Julie also serves as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University where she teaches an undergraduate general music course.

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Julie's musical journey has taken her to China, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia for concert tours, festivals, and concerts. One of her career highlights was performing English horn on Dvorak's New World Symphony during the Gramado Music Festival in Brazil. 

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Julie is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts with a Teaching Artist Certificate from Arizona State University studying under renowned pedagogue and oboist, Martin Schuring. She also holds a Master of Music in Performance Pedagogy under Schuring's tutelage and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Studies from the University of Arizona. 

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Julie plays on a Howarth XL Cocobolo oboe and a Fox Tristan 580 maple English horn.