Oscar Soto is a junior at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He has played the flute for seven years. What began as a simple hobby grew into a deep passion for the flute and classical music. At John Hersey, Oscar plays principal flute in the Symphonic Band, which performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in December 2024. He earned ILMEA All-State recognition last year and has participated in Illinois Summer Youth Music Flute Week. Outside school, he performs with the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Youth Orchestra and studies under Hideko Amano. He placed third in the Chicago Flute Club Student Competition and won the Winds Division of the O’Malley National Concerto Competition. Oscar is also a fellow of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, supporting diversity in classical music through mentorship, training, and master classes with accomplished musicians. This summer Oscar also attended interlochen arts camp.
Watch Oscar Soto perform Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (FS 119) by Carl Nielsen on the flute for the 2026 Instrumental Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.