Marianne Osiel

Marianne Osiel's musical journey is truly a unique one. She took her first piano lesson at the age of five, in her home town of Santa Barbara, CA. At nine years old, she began playing guitar, added flute a year later, and at age 13 began studying the oboe. At age 15, she began more serious studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, majoring in oboe and minoring in voice. At 17, she was only high school oboist in the country selected to attend the Cleveland Institute Of Music, where she studied under John Mack. She secured her first orchestra chair with the Santa Barbara Symphony in 1977, and stayed on for two years. Studying at the San Francisco Conservatory (on full scholarship), she moved to Nashville, where she was a full-time member of the Nashville Symphony for ten years. During that time she was also a first-call session player, appearing on hundreds of recordings. While in Nashville, Marianne blossomed as a singer-songwriter, often playing as a solo artist “in the round” at the Bluebird Café, or leading one of her bands, the Delta Elements, at 12th & Porter or Ace of Clubs. In fall of 1998, Marianne moved to New York, performing in clubs in the Northeast. In 1998 and 1999, she played Mainstage at Kerrville Folk Festival. From 2000–2002, she toured the country as a member of the John Hall Band, playing acoustic guitar, slide, and oboe, opening most of these shows with a solo set of original material. On stage, Marianne consistently delivers powerful, honest, and convincing performances, whether as a solo artist or with her band. But it’s in the recording studio where Marianne’s myriad of musical talents - writer, arranger, producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist - are more fully unleashed. On her solo release, “Full Of Wholes”, you hear heartful, personal songs of love, loss, and longing. Surrounded by a tasteful, intimate production, her formidable guitar playing moves seamlessly from delicate to ferocious, her voice rising from delicate whisper to raw, organic belter. She reaches inside the heart, inviting one to risk a new thought, a hidden feeling. “Strange Girl”, her first CD release, presents an explosion of creativity and diversity. This self-produced collection of intricate and provocative songs features Marianne playing guitar, slide, flute, piano, & oboe, and is supported by some of Nashville’s finest studio musicians, including Craig Krampf (Melissa Ethridge), Don Kerce (disappear Fear), and Reese Wynans (Stevie Ray Vaughn). One of Marianne’s favorite art forms is improvisation. Combining her considerable talents as classical oboist with her propensity for adventure, she recently released “How the Light Gets In”, a beautiful and eclectic collection of oboe and keyboard improvisational duets. Noted violist Martha Mooke writes, "Marianne Osiel caresses the oboe as if it were her magic lamp. Sometimes the genie emerges as a beautiful soulful melody, other times as a playful imp". Among the many musicians she has recorded with in both classical and pop worlds are: Dave Sancious, Roy Orbison, George Massenberg, Jo-el Sonnier, John Hall, Ashley Cleveland, Rachel Sage and Paul Winter Consort. Marianne has performed as a backup vocalist and/or musician with artists including Jackson Browne, John Hall (Orleans), Robbie Dupree, Jack deJohnette, Gatemouth Brown, Take Six, Delbert McClinton, and Rick Danko (The Band).