Hugo Souza joined the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as the acting principal oboe for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. He officially assumed the role of principal oboe for the start of the 2021-22 season. He continues to serve as principal oboe and has actively participated in education and fundraising events since 2019.

Active as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, Hugo performs extensively throughout Brazil, North America, and Europe. He has performed as a guest artist at Music@Menlo (California) and with the ensemble Pentaèdre (Montreal, Canada). He has also toured with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (NYC), including a U.S. tour in summer 2022 and performances at Alice Tully Hall in December 2023.

Hugo has had the honor of performing with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, as well as in Prague and Germany, the American Ballet Theatre (NYC), the American Symphony Orchestra (NYC) at the Bard Music Festival in August 2019, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra at Chautauqua Institution. He was a finalist for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra’s principal oboe position for the 2023 season and served as guest principal oboe during the 2021 and 2022 summer seasons. Additionally, he was the runner-up in the American Ballet Theatre’s principal oboe audition in 2024.

Born into a musical family in Natal, Brazil, he began playing oboe at age fourteen and discovered his passion for the oboe. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), where both of his parents serve as faculty in the music department. Hugo continued his studies in the United States, earning his Master of Music degree from SUNY Purchase as a student of Maestro Humbert Lucarelli. He is a doctoral candidate at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester where he studies with Richard Killmer (ABD).

As an educator, Hugo is on faculty at Capital University’s Conservatory of Music while also giving master classes throughout the country, coaching the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra’s oboe section, and sparking creativity in students of all ages throughout Columbus. Prior to this appointment, he held a three-year tenure track position as the oboe and chamber music faculty at his alma mater in Natal (UFRN). While there he co-founded the Brazilian Double Reed Society, which has since held major international conferences featuring master classes with world renowned double reed artists. This organization continues to foster a thriving community for double reed players and has amplified classical music’s role in Brazilian culture. Hugo brings this dynamic energy to his performing and teaching every day as he continues to support and mentor the next generation of oboists.

Beyond the stage and studio, Hugo findsjoy in cooking and cherishes simple moments with his family. He draws inspiration from culinary creativity and love, reflecting his life and passions in his approach to music and teaching.