Dr. Joël Evans, oboist and solo English hornist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, has been a familiar musical voice in the valley for many years. He is oboist with the Poné Ensemble and plays baroque and classical oboes with La Grande Ecurie, the resident historic ensemble at SUNY New Paltz, where he also serves as director of the Symphonic Band, Collegium Musicum and assistant professor of oboe and music history.

Dr. Evans has performed with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Atlantic Chamber Orchestra, and was principal oboist of the Albany Symphony from 1982 to 1985. He leads a busy teaching schedule and has played numerous TV and radio advertisements. Joël has recorded for Philo, Rounder, Koch International, CRI, and New World, and his playing has been heard all over the US, Canada, Europe and the Far East. He has appeared as a featured soloist at Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, Saratoga, the Charles Ives Center and Carnegie Hall. Joel retired as principal oboist of the US Military Academy Band at West Point after nearly thirty years of service.

His commercial work has included playing with such notables as James Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Luciano Pavarotti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Nancy Wilson, The Moody Blues, Blood Sweat and Tears, Peter Paul and Mary, Roy Clark, Roberta Flack as well as regular performances in the Broadway productions of Camelot, Cabaret, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables.

Dr. Evans holds degrees from the University of Maine, Columbia University, and the City University of New York. He lives in Newburgh with his wife, violist Valentina Charlap-Evans.