Woodwind – Hilary Stavros Ives

Hilary currently teaches flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon and recorders at Cardiff Steiner School. She has worked with Classes, ensembles and individuals at the School since 2019.

She is originally from Utah and has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Orchestral Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She started violin aged 7, picked up the oboe at 12, and was active in school and extra-curricular music-making throughout her teens. Her first job at age 17 was performing with the Utah Shakespeare Festival as a recorder player, and this inspired her to pursue a career in music.

Hilary’s main instruments are oboe and cor anglais, and she holds the position of second oboe/cor anglais with several local groups including Gwent Chamber Orchestra, City of Cardiff Symphony Orchestra, St Woolos Sinfonia, and performs regularly as a freelancer. She also has experience on a variety of recorders and shawms and has previously been an on-stage performer and pit musician.

Hilary is passionate about music and is committed to inspiring students and conveying the joy and fulfilment music can bring. Hilary has taught in the US and UK in individual/group instrument lessons in schools, and also as a teacher for school orchestra, choir and music appreciation. She enjoys helping students of all levels of understanding, from beginners to Grade 8, and has taught a broad range of subjects including flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, violin, cello, viola, recorder, TooTs, DooDs, group singing and music theory.