Profile of Bobby Yang

Written by Olivia Broadrick

Bobby Yang is a senior Classical Oboist at IAA. He is originally from Melbourne, Australia, which Bobby referred to as a “melting pot” of cultures and beliefs. First encouraged by his parents to play the oboe, he soon fell in love with the instrument due to its sound and feel. 

Bobby applied to IAA after a recommendation from Eric Stomberg, whom he met at the International Double Reed Society conference. The most difficult part of being an oboe major, for him, is its competitive nature and the constantly moving bar for what is the “best.” One of the things he is looking forward to on campus is the concerto competition. With that said, Bobby’s favorite spot on campus is the music center. 

On a different note, since he is originally from Melbourne, Bobby grew up with a wide variety of food within his reach, so transitioning to the limited food selection at IAA was difficult for him. On the topic of food, Bobby’s go-to order at Melody Freeze is a cheese quesadilla or a cheeseburger. 

During his free time on campus, Bobby enjoys rock climbing, bouldering, socializing with friends, and using his time to practice efficiently. Bobby wishes that a more challenging climbing wall was added to the campus, considering he thinks of the one on campus as a “kid’s wall.” He also wishes for more access to downtown because “it’s almost like a gated community” at IAA. To wrap things up, the vibe of his dorm room is “cozy,” although he would like to add shoe organizers to it.