Oboist Sarah Williams experienced love at first sight at the age of four when her parents introduced a piano into their home. Displaying a natural artistic intuition and an emotional investment in the study of music, weekly piano lessons quickly grew into a hunger for a comprehensive dive into the art of interpretation. 

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Sarah joins the Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra in 2025 as principal oboe. An active performer, she has appeared with numerous ensembles, including the Richmond Symphony, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Chelsea Symphony, the Jackson Heights Orchestra, the Hunter Symphony Orchestra, and at Lincoln Center for the New York premiere of John Luther Adams’ Crossing Open Ground. As a devoted teacher, she maintains a private oboe studio, makes and sells oboe reeds, and is on the faculty at the Lucy Moses School at Kaufman Music Center. In June 2025, she served as the Teaching Assistant at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music. 

Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School as a student of Elaine Douvas, receiving additional instruction from Nathan Hughes, Linda Strommen, Scott Hostetler, Julia DeRosa, and Melissa Hooper. She regularly performed with the Juilliard Orchestra and was a Teaching Assistant for the Oboe Class. She had the pleasure of serving as Principal Oboist of the New York Youth Symphony for their 2019-20 season and was featured on CNN’s “The Fourth in America” with Billy Ray Cyrus. When she is not practicing or making reeds, Sarah enjoys sampling coffee shops, reading, and spending time with family and friends.