Miriam Cooney is in her second year completing a performance degree on Oboe at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She began her musical journey learning piano and violin, and singing in choirs. Upon hearing Celia Craig perform at a local Orpheus concert in the Blue Mountains, she was intrigued by the unique sound of the instrument, and soon began lessons at the age of eight, studying with Celia Craig, Mark Bruwel, and now Shefali Pryor.

Miriam has participated in Australian Youth Orchestra programs, Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra junior programs and masterclasses, received a nomination for the HSC’s Encore and attained her AMusA. She has been the principal oboe of the Sydney Youth Orchestra’s flagship orchestra for 4 years, and toured to Europe with SYO in 2017. She recently co-founded Wollemi Quintet, who were invited to attend the Advanced Masterclass Program at the 2021 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Additionally, they had the honour of performing at Government House for the USYD Vice Chancellor’s Concert.