November 8, 2024
By Mignon A. Gould
Former principal oboist orchestrates promising career in the Valley
Peter Kjome’s experience as a professional oboist has been instrumental in his role as a business leader, including as president and CEO at the Phoenix Symphony.
For nearly a decade, Kjome worked in the private sector at 3M in strategic planning and business development, but it has been his work as a musician that he said informs his leadership roles at orchestras.
“It’s been enormously helpful to have the experience of having been a professional musician and understanding what it takes to be a musician,” said Kjome, who has a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
The Minnesota-born, Laramie, Wyoming-raised Kjome became actively involved in music at 12 years old when he first picked up the oboe. As an oboist, Kjome orchestrated a career that led him to play for the Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Rapids Symphony.
After years of performing, Kjome retired from playing the oboe in 1998.
“I was a professional for many years, and then realized that I would need to retire from performing because of some health issues related to playing the instrument — related to the air pressure blowing into the instrument,” Kjome said.
Being forced into early retirement was a shock for Kjome, who compared it to athletic careers. It’s not uncommon for some pro athletes to see their careers end while in their early 30s. [Continue Reading]
