Formal study of the oboe culminates in the arrival at this level. Special interests such as contemporary styles, artistic study abroad or special research are possibilities at this point.

Career objectives may have specific prerequisites. Teaching at the college level requires graduate study. Graduate assistantships with a modest stipend can provide experience in teaching undergraduate students while pursuing a graduate degree tuition-free. A secondary specialty field such as music history, theory or conducting is often useful. Many small to medium size college teaching situations offer the opportunity to combine self-generated sources of income such as teaching, playing, contracting and recording.

Professional performance experience is generally required for the top college positions. Universities that offer graduate degrees usually require that their faculty members have doctoral degrees along with an artistic performance background. After settling into a performing or teaching position and gaining recognition, clinician-soloist engagements may be pursued to supplement basic employment.

The performance music listed in this level contains masterpieces written for the oboe. Any or all of this repertoire can be studied initially in earlier levels. At this level, however, this music should be relearned and restyled to reflect consummate artistic maturity and style.