Megan Dvorak Werner grew up in Hayward, Wisconsin, where a chance encounter with an oboist during a church service sparked a lifelong love of the instrument. Wanting more experience beyond school band, she and her mom, Kris (chauffeur by necessity until Megan got her license), made weekly Monday-night treks to Duluth for oboe lessons with DSSO’s Laurie van Brunt and Duluth Youth Symphony rehearsals and performances.

Megan went on to earn her Bachelor of Music in oboe performance from St. Olaf College, where she studied with Dana Maeda and performed with both the St. Olaf Band and Orchestra. Her warm tone and expressive phrasing reflect the teaching traditions of both Maeda and Van Brunt, rooted in the legacy of Marcel Tabuteau.

By day, Megan works in nonprofit fundraising as a Development Officer at Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery—and brings that expertise to her role on the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors. As a performer, she has played with the Kenwood, Mankato, and Mississippi Valley Orchestras and currently serves as principal oboe with the BSO.

A passionate chamber musician, Megan performs alongside fellow BSO musicians Becky Jyrkas and Charlotte Bartholomew in the Solerna Winds. She has also performed extensively as a freelance oboist, including two touring seasons with Lorie Line’s holiday show.

Megan lives in Andover with her husband Mike, a high school band director and fellow BSO musician. They met backstage at a BSO concert nearly eight years ago and now share a life filled with music, two dogs (Bailey and Cooper), and several rescue cats. In her limited spare time, Megan enjoys gardening, textile crafts, and tackling home improvement projects.