In the third episode of Passing Notes, we sit down with Australian oboist Joshua Oates. Now Principal Oboe with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and regular soloist and chamber musician, Josh has quickly become recognised as one of Australia’s foremost wind players.

This episode explores Josh’s journey as a student both in Australia and overseas, challenges he has faced in adopting his primary instrument later than many of his peers, and how he’s found his home in the symphony orchestra.

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Created by harpist-composer and 2026 AYO Media & Communication Fellow, Passing Notes is a podcast which aims to demystify, debunk and explore the diversity of a career in classical music performance.

As young performers in Australia, there can often be the idea of a ‘right way’ to go about pursing a successful career in classical performance—a formula or ‘golden path’ which young musicians might feel pressure to conform to. Throughout this miniseries, we learn how in reality, no two pathways look the same. By entering the worlds of some of Australia’s leading performers and artistic thinkers, we hear about what their journey has looked like navigating a career in classical performance.

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Music included in this episode:

“Moss Grotto” from Hollow Knight: Silksong (Original Soundtrack) by Christopher Larkin (2025).

“Menuet” No. 3 from Le tombeau de Couperin, M.68 by Maurice Ravel (1917). David Stanhope, conductor; Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, (2008).