Artist Bio
Oboist and electronic musician Kyle Bruckmann tramples genre boundaries in widely ranging work as a composer/performer, educator, and New Music specialist. His creative output – extending from conservatory-trained foundations into gray areas encompassing free jazz, post-punk rock, and the noise underground – can be heard on more than 100 recordings from labels such as New World, Hat Art, Carrier, New Focus, Not Two, Clean Feed, and Another Timbre. This breadth has led to his recognition as “an excellent composer, striking the right balance between form and freedom” (Signal to Noise), “a modern day renaissance musician” (Dusted) and “a seasoned improviser with impressive extended technique and peculiar artistic flair” (All Music Guide).
Thanks to his uncommon distinction as an improvising oboist, he has performed and/or recorded with Creative Music progenitors Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton and George Lewis, and worked as a sideman for bandleaders such as Lisa Mezzacappa, Guillermo Gregorio, Andrew Raffo Dewar and Myra Melford. Current ensemble affiliations include Splinter Reeds, sfSound, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Eco Ensemble, Quinteto Latino, and the Stockton Symphony; the most significant projects he has led or collaboratively founded include Degradient, EKG, Lozenge, and Wrack.
Since moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003, he has performed as a substitute with the SF Symphony and most of the area’s regional orchestras while remaining active within an international community of improvisers and sound artists. From 1996 until his Western relocation, he was a fixture in Chicago’s thriving experimental music scene, with frequent collaborators including Jim Baker, Jeb Bishop, Olivia Block, Tim Daisy, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Robbie Hunsinger, Bob Marsh, Weasel Walter, and Michael Zerang.
Bruckmann earned undergraduate degrees in music and psychology at Rice University in Houston, studying oboe with Robert Atherholt, serving as music director of campus radio station KTRU, and achieving academic distinction as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He completed his M.M. in 1996 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he studied oboe with Harry Sargous and contemporary improvisation with Ed Sarath. He has taught at at UC Santa Cruz, Davis and Berkeley as well as at Mills College, and is now Assistant Professor of Practice in Oboe and Contemporary Music at University of the Pacific.
Event Highlights
This year’s Oboe Marathon, hosted by Dr. Lisa Kozenko and the Ball State Oboe Studio, promises a fun and engaging day for oboists of all levels. It’s a great opportunity to meet new oboe friends, reconnect with fellow musicians, and gain valuable insights into performance techniques, ensemble playing, improvisation, and professional development.
We are thrilled to welcome Kyle Bruckmann (Assistant Professor of Practice and Director of Chamber Music at Pacific University) as our 2025 guest artist. Known for his innovative work in electroacoustic music and contemporary performance, Kyle brings a unique perspective as an oboist, composer, improviser, and electronic musician.
Highlights of the day include two masterclasses with Kyle, a collaborative reed-making session with Kyle, Dr. Kozenko, and members of the Ball State Oboe Studio, and workshops exploring improvisation, extended techniques, and new music practices.
To register for this year's Oboe Marathon, fill our the registration form.
Tentative Schedule
Sunday, November 23, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Hahn Hall, Music Instruction Building
- 10:00–10:15 a.m. – Warm-Up & Welcome with Dr. Kozenko and the BSU Oboe Studio
- 10:15–1:00 p.m. – Oboe Master Class I with Kyle Bruckmann
- 1:00–1:15 p.m. – Break
- 1:15–2:00 p.m. – Improvisation & Extended Techniques Workshop for Oboe & English Horn
- 2:00–3:30 p.m. – Oboe Master Class II with Kyle Bruckmann
- 3:30–4:00 p.m. – Oboe in the Wild: From Conservatory to Sonic Subversion – Discussion led by Kyle Bruckmann
- 4:00–6:00 p.m. – Oboe Reed Making & Critique with Kyle Bruckmann & Dr. Kozenko
Additional Information
- ðķ Play Your ISSMA Solo! Participants are invited to perform prepared pieces for feedback.
- ðŠķ Bring Your Oboe! This is a hands-on event. Please bring your instrument.
- ðïļ Free and Open to the Public! Attend one session or stay the whole day—you’re guaranteed to learn something new and leave inspired.
Quote from a Past Participant
“The experience was a game-changer for me. Being able to hear other oboists and the advice they were given inspired me to accelerate my practice and work hard to sound like them.”
– 2020 BSU Oboe Marathon Participant
Parking
Parking is available in the McKinley Parking Garage (entrance on Ashland Avenue) located immediately south of Sursa Hall. Metered parking is available on the first floor of the garage until 7 p.m. at which time parking is free.