Year Joined: 2022

Erik Andrusyak was appointed principal oboe of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra in 2022. He is also the co-principal oboe of the United States Coast Guard Band and the principal oboe of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He was previously the principal oboe of the Elgin Symphony and a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a training program under the Chicago Symphony Orchestra directed by Ken-David Masur.

Throughout his career, he has participated in prestigious music festivals including the Pacific Music Festival and the Music Academy of the West. He has been invited to perform as a guest with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Albany Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, and the Chicago Philharmonic. Additionally, he has been featured as a soloist with the Connecticut Symphony, Masterworks Festival Orchestra, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, Yellow River Music Festival, and the Civic Centennial Celebration Bach Marathon, where Yo-Yo Ma served as the creative consultant. This performance was broadcast live on WFMT. He has made solo appearances in Japan, Korea, China, and Russia.

In addition to maintaining his own private studio in Norwich, CT, he currently teaches at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven and the Thames Valley Music School in New London. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University, where he studied with Alex Klein, former Principal Oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Other mentors include Grace Hong, Joseph Claude, Scott Hostetler, Eugene Izotov, Lora Schaefer, and William Welter.

Favorite Composer:
It’s too difficult to choose one, but Mozart, Bach, and Mahler are up there.

What inspires you to play:
Creating something new as an ensemble and sharing it with our audience!

Hobbies:
I am almost always thinking of sushi or wine.

Year you joined the ECSO:1987

Olav Van Hezewijk is Assistant Principal Oboe and English Horn of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Principal Oboe of the New Haven and Waterbury Symphony Orchestras and Principal Oboe of the Colorado Music Festival. He is, also, a sought after soloist, has soloed with the aforementioned orchestras plus the Yale Camerata, Jupiter Symphony and China National Symphony, where he was guest Principal Oboe in 2003. He was a prize winner in the International Double Reed Competition in Graz, Austria in 1984, following graduation from the Yale School of Music. Olav is from the Netherlands and graduated from Het Twent Conservatory in 1982.

Hidden talent(s):Spiritual endeavors related to Buddhism.

Favorite musical memory:Performing as guest Principal Oboe at Opera City Hall, Tokyo, with the China National Symphony.

Favorite Motto or Quote:“Nice is not enough”.

Favorite Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

What/Who inspired you to take up your instrument:My father was an organist and encouraged me to study the recorder, which led to the oboe eventually.

Year you joined the ECSO:1995

Marta Boratgis hails from the Rocky Mountains of Boulder, Colorado. Marriage relocated her to New Haven in 1984. She is Second Oboe of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Oboe, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Second Oboe, Norwalk Symphony, English horn, Utility Oboe, Waterbury Symphony Orchestra and recently retired from Second Oboe at the Colorado Music Festival where she is, now, the Housing Director. In addition to playing, Marta is a prominent orchestral contractor and a few of her clients include the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Greenwich Choral Society, New Haven Chorale, Greater Middletown Chorale and numerous churches in Fairfield and New Haven Counties with substantial music programs.

Hidden talent(s):Hiking and low level mountaineering.

Favorite musical memory: Playing Mozart’s “Gran Partita” with the Colorado Music Festival with Michael Christie on the podium. We were performing in the beautiful Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO and the sun was setting behind the mountains as we played.

Favorite Motto or Quote:“That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”

Favorite Composer:Johann Sebastian Bach

What/Who inspired you to take up your instrument:My mother was a pianist, my father a violinist. Music was an “every day occurrence” in our home. I also loved everything “Arabian” and heard the oboe in one of those hokey movies with belly dancers and sheiks. The exotic sound of sound of the oboe drew me to it and, later, I took up Middle Eastern dance and Arabic hand drum.