Kara Poling is Associate Principal Oboe/English Horn of the Richmond Symphony. In the summer of 2022, she took first prize in the Norma Hooks Young Artist International Oboe Competition. Kara has appeared as a guest musician with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, and the New World Symphony.

A passionate chamber musician, Kara performs each summer with the Richmond Chamber Players. She also attended several prestigious festivals including Music Academy of the West and Aspen Music Festival. In 2018 she toured Asia as a member of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra, under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, and was invited back for their All-Star Orchestra event in May 2026. She has also appeared with the New Hampshire Music Festival.

Kara received her BM as a Kovner Fellow at The Juilliard School where she studied with Elaine Douvas. She was awarded the Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding leadership and music. Other influential teachers include Melissa Hooper, Ryan Roberts, Nathan Hughes, Scott Hostetler, and Linda Strommen. Kara’s Juilliard woodwind quintet, Amity Winds, competed as semi-finalists in the 50th annual Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.

Kara began studying oboe with her mom at the age of 9. When not playing music, she can be found exploring coffee shops, traveling, practicing yoga, and cheering on the Baltimore Ravens. She has visited 46 of the 50 states.