Mr. Genovese, Principal Oboist Emeritus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, began his study of the oboe when he was 16 years old with John Minsker, former English hornist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He subsequently studied oboe and ensemble with the world renown oboist and musician, Marcel Tabuteau, at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. After graduating from Curtis, Alfred Genovese held the position of Principal Oboist with the Baltimore and St. Louis Symphonies, the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell and the Metropolitan Opera. When he left the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to join the Boston Symphony Orchestra, James Levine, artistic director of the Met, remarked that "we have lost one of our best singers!"

Alfred Genovese comes from a large musical Philadelphia family. His father was a professional clarinetist and two of his brothers also attended the Curtis Institute and became famous clarinetists. Mr. Genovese performed for many years at the Marlboro Music festival with Rudolph Serkin and he was a soloist at the Casals Music Festival with Rudolph Serkin and he was a soloist at the Casals Music Festival in Puerto Rico.