Mekhi Gladden

Mekhi Gladden is an oboist and changemaker whose work bridges the worlds of music and medicine. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia and based in Philadelphia, they began studying oboe at 15 through the Talent Development Program, later earning degrees at the Curtis Institute of Music and Thomas Jefferson University.

Mekhi has performed with leading orchestras across the U.S., including the Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Memphis Symphony, Princeton Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, and Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. Committed to using music as a tool for connection and transformation, they have collaborated with Times Square Arts, Astral Artists, the People’s Music Supply, Sugar Hill Salon, and the Composers Conference at Avaloch.

A champion of new music and inclusive classical spaces, Mekhi actively commissions and premieres new works and is dedicated to mentorship and outreach. They were recently named winner of the Jan and Beattie Wood Concerto Competition, performing as soloist with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra.

Beyond the stage, Mekhi is a nationally certified pharmacy technician and vaccinator, working to expand access to medications, vaccines, and health literacy. Their dual commitment to care and creativity fuels a unique and deeply human artistic voice.

Mekhi now brings that voice to the Grammy winning Imani Winds as the ensemble’s newest member, carrying forward the legacy of their mentor, Toyin Spellman-Diaz.

Mekhi joined the chamber music faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 2025.