Machiko Ogawa Schlaffer

Machiko Ogawa Schlaffer, originally from Okazaki, Japan, joined the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in 2007 as Assistant Principal Oboe. She started her early musical education taking violin lessons, and playing trumpet in her middle school band. Machiko started playing oboe when she was 14. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from Musashino Music Academy in Tokyo. After graduation, she moved to the United States to study at Boston Conservatory with Keisuke Wakao, Assistant Principal Oboist in the Boston Symphony. In 2002, Machiko joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and was coached by Chicago Symphony members including Alex Klein. She attended Roosevelt University for her Master's Degree in Orchestral Performance and studied Oboe and English Horn with Grover Schiltz. Machiko has participated in summer festivals such as Tanglewood, Des Moines Metro Opera, National Orchestral Institute, and Colorado College Music Festival. She has also performed with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, Rockford Symphony, South Bend Symphony and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Montevallo.

Machiko lives in Hoover with her husband, Gabriel, who is Principal Violist in South Bend Symphony, and with their two cats, Leila and Fuga. She enjoys cooking and traveling.