Dr. Cindy Behmer is the Oboe Instructor at California State University, Sacramento and at UC Davis. In addition to her university positions, Dr. Behmer freelances with several groups in Northern California, including Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, Stockton Symphony, Opera Modesto, Broadway at Music Circus, Reno Philharmonic, Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and Zion Chamber Orchestra. She recently had the privilege of performing with Mannheim Steamroller and Johnny Matthis on their local tour. She also served as an oboe instructor with the Bocal Majority and Operation Oboe NorCal camp (on hold since 2020).

     Dr. Behmer maintains a large private studio serving the greater Sacramento and Davis area. Her pre-college students have achieved principal positions with the Sacramento Youth Symphony, All-State Bands and Orchestra, and All-Northern Honor Band and many have placed in Youth Artist Competitions. In addition, former high school students have gone on to study oboe at the Curtis Institute of Music and other 4-year universities.

      Upon completion of her Doctor of Musical Arts degree (2011) at the University of Arizona with Dr. Neil Tatman, Dr. Behmer served as tenured oboist and English hornist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. She also held positions with the Tucson Chamber Artists Orchestra, the Tucson Pops Orchestra and concertized on several chamber music series including St. Philip’s Friends of Music and St. Andrew’s Bach Society. Dr. Behmer has also pursued additional study with Thomas Stacy, Carolyn Hove, Dr. Lindabeth Binkley, and Paula Engerer.

     In 2011, Dr. Behmer gave a lecture-recital at the College Music Society International Conference held in Seoul, South Korea. The lecture recital, titled Exploring the Sounds of Doubling Double Reeds: Demonstrating New Music for English horn and Contrabassoon, featured compositions that were commissioned by her duo, Kontra-Cor Duo. The Kontra-Cor Duo is a doubling double-reed duo that specializes in commissioning works for doubling double-reed artists. Dr. Behmer also had the honor of joining the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra for an exciting ten-day tour of China in 2009. The tour included 6 concerts given in 5 cities (including Beijing, Shenzhen, and Dalian). Both musical engagements were rich in cultural experiences.

     Dr. Behmer taught Music in General Education courses at the University of Arizona between 2006-2010 as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, including Music in World Cultures and History of American Rock and Pop. Dr. Behmer also served as a sabbatical fill-in and taught Applied Oboe and Woodwind Techniques courses to undergraduate oboists. Dr. Behmer joined the Tucson-based Summer Thunder Chinese Music Ensemble as percussionist to complement her non-Western musical interests.

     Dr. Behmer currently plays on a Rosewood Covey Ramsay (2021) built by Ginger Ramsay and Kip Zimmerman.

 

     When not teaching, playing, or making reeds... Dr. Behmer enjoys quality time with her husband and young family at their home in rural Wilton where they enjoy outside-time together in the garden and with their animals.