Melissa Scott is a dynamic and versatile Canadian oboist, officially joining the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa for the 2025-2026 season. She currently holds the position of second oboe and English horn with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra (since 2023) and has served as principal oboe of the Kingston Symphony Orchestra since 2015.
Melissa has performed extensively with many of Canada's leading orchestras. She was acting second oboe with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for their 2011–2012 and 2017–2018 seasons, and held the position of second oboe and English horn with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra from 2010–2012. As a sought-after freelancer, she continues to perform regularly with ensembles such as the Calgary Philharmonic, the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and has appeared as guest principal oboe with several of these major institutions.
Equally at home beyond the concert hall, Melissa has enjoyed a wide-ranging performance career, including appearances in studio recordings, television commercials, and as a backup musician for mainstream pop artists. She has also performed in the National Broadway tours of Wicked in 2012, 2018, and 2024.
In addition to her performance career, Melissa is a passionate advocate for the oboe community. In 2019, she founded Sandpiper Oboe Boutique, which has grown into North America's premier source for high-quality oboe accessories and reed-making equipment, earning a reputation for excellence and artistry across the continent. Melissa is also dedicated to music education. Since 2021, she has served as adjunct oboe instructor at the Dan School of Drama and Music at Queen's University, and teaches at the Oscar Peterson School of Music at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Originally from Ottawa, Melissa holds a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Ottawa.