Michael Wilson was appointed Co-Principal Oboe of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2005. Prior to this, he was working regularly with London based orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he toured extensively in Germany under the direction of their then Chief Conductor, Kurt Masur. He has also worked with other UK orchestras including the Bournemouth Symphony and the Ulster Orchestra. He was Guest Principal Oboe for the English Symphony Orchestra and toured with them, playing Vivaldi’s concerto for oboe and violin, with Nigel Kennedy.

Michael studied with Richard Simpson (Principal – BBC Symphony Orchestra) and Gordon Hunt (Principal – Philharmonia Orchestra) at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he graduated with First Class Honors and received the “Philip Jones” prize for woodwind. With the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, he was invited to play for two consecutive years in Italy along with the London Symphony Chorus, under the direction of Paolo Olmi in concert performances of operas by Verdi and Puccini.

He was then awarded a place in the newly founded orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, based in London, which gave rise to many opportunities to play in some of the most beautiful concert settings in London, such as St John’s Smith Square and Westminster Cathedral, working with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy and on several occasionsplaying the Vaughan Williams concerto for oboe and Bach’s concerto for oboe and violin.

Prior to this, Michael was in the Cyprus State Chamber Orchestra. It was in Cyprus that he first performed A Quiet City by Aaron Copland scored for trumpet and cor anglais solo with Orchestra.

Michael has performed in many chamber music concerts, with members of the London based orchestras, most recently a wind quintet recital with Principal players of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Since moving to Hong Kong, Michael has returned to the UK upon invitation to play Principal Oboe with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo.