Hometown:
Los Angeles, California
Education:
University of California, Los Angeles, Herb Alpert School of Music, Bachelor of Music (2022)
Mannes School of Music, Master of Music (2024)
University of California, Los Angeles, Herb Alpert School of Music, Master of Music (2026)
Bio:
Los Angeles-based musician Thacher Schreiber maintains a diverse musical repertory, with positions in the California Young Artists Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles, and Fivemind Reeds, of which he is a founding member. He has degrees in performance from UCLA and the Mannes School of Music, where he studied with Jonathan Davis and Professor Ryan Roberts, respectively. Thacher is also an avid composer and studied composition at UCLA.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I was drawn to music by the connections I was able to make with other people; all of my best friends were made through music-making, and I’ve had so many meaningful interactions with others through music.
Name your favorite composers and/or pieces:
Olivier Messiaen (I love me an onde martenot) and Mozart! Most fun I ever had playing in an opera pit was in the Magic Flute!
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
My oboe is brown! While most oboes (clarinets, too) are made out of grenadilla (African blackwood), mine is made out of cocobolo, which is usually a warm brown! I get lots of questions about it.
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
When not locked in mortal combat with my reed desk, I am also an avid composer, and have an additional master’s degree in composition. My thesis composition was a Double Concerto for Oboe and Harp!
Why did you choose the NRO?
There are so many things that drew me to the National Repertory Orchestra, not the least of which is the varied repertoire, from grand symphonies to movie scores, providing a broad experience of orchestral playing. The rigorous schedule of performances is also a unique challenge that exists in very few places other than with the NRO. I also love Colorado, and have tons of family in Denver and in Grand Junction, where my mom grew up. Needless to say my grandmother is very happy I’m here (as am I)!