Ewan Millar

Tillett Debut Artists 2024

Ewan is a prominent young oboist building a career in the UK. In 2020 Ewan won the woodwind final of BBC Young Musician, advancing to the Grand Final, and giving what was described as, an “exemplary, richly shaded account” (The Guardian), of Navarro’s “Legacy” concerto with the BBC Philharmonic. Since the competition he has been performing as a soloist in recitals around the UK, including at the Windsor, Cheltenham, and Lake District Summer Music Festivals. Upcoming engagements include a performance of the Marcello Oboe Concerto in the historic Dvořák Hall in Prague in October 2024.

As a freelancer, he has had the privilege of playing principal oboe with the RPO, Aurora Orchestra, and Britten Sinfonia, and has also performed with the Philharmonia, RLPO, London Concertante, and Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been selected as a Foyle Future Firsts musician with the LPO for the 2024/25 season. Ewan is very grateful to the Tillett Trust for accepting him onto their Debut Scheme for the next two years, helping secure him concerts around the UK and continue his professional development as a soloist.

Ewan did his undergraduate at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, and his postgraduate at RAM, where he was awarded the Bicentennial Prize and Janet Craxton Memorial Prize, as well as winning the departmental Oboe Prize. He studied primarily with Melanie Ragge, while also receiving lessons from Christopher Cowie, and Patrick Flanaghan for cor anglais. Beyond oboe he is also a jazz pianist, gigging regularly in bars and restaurants around Oxford and London. Ewan is a Howarth Artist, and plays on a Howarth XM oboe, which he was kindly aided in buying by the Gerald Finzi Trust.