Meet Lindsay McIntosh

We were lucky to catch up with Lindsay McIntosh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Lindsay with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I’ve been fortunate to have a strong work ethic instilled in me from a very young age—and it all started with music. Being in band as a kid was transformative. It taught me routine, discipline, and most importantly, accountability to others. You couldn’t just show up and coast—you had to learn your part, practice it with care, and bring your best every time because your bandmates were relying on you. It felt like a family with both responsibility and joy.

But more than anything, band gave me my first taste of collaboration. It wasn’t just about getting the notes right—it was about listening, responding, and showing up for each other to create something greater than the sum of its parts. That experience gave me the foundation not only to make music, but to understand the deeper value of building community through creative work—a lesson I carry with me in everything I do.

As I grew older and set my sights on becoming a concert oboist, the stakes (and the practice hours!) got higher. To be accepted into The Juilliard School—and then maintain that level of excellence while performing professionally in New York, Boston, and across Europe—took not just talent, but extreme dedication, consistency, and grit. There are no shortcuts in that world. Success is built on showing up every day, pushing yourself beyond what’s comfortable, and holding your work to the highest standard, even when no one’s watching.

But I think the key for me wasn’t just internal drive—it was also the supportive structure around me. My teachers, mentors, and family always encouraged my commitment. They met my work ethic with love, belief, and celebration, which made all the difference. I really believe in the power of positive extrinsic reinforcement—knowing that when I gave my all, it mattered to someone, it inspired others, and it contributed to something bigger than myself. That sense of purpose has followed me into everything I do now through Musica Sierra.

Whether I’m leading a team, commissioning new works, or developing arts-integrated curriculum for rural schools, the work ethic I bring is grounded in those early experiences: practice, presence, collaboration, community, and heart.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m Lindsay McIntosh, a Juilliard-trained historical oboist, educator, and arts entrepreneur, and I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Musica Sierra—a nonprofit dedicated to bringing world-class music and arts education to rural communities in Northern California, where I was born and raised. After spending years performing in New York, Boston, and Europe, I returned home to start a family and realized there was a deep need—and a beautiful opportunity—to build something lasting in the region that shaped me.

Musica Sierra offers year-round performances, artist residencies, and original educational programming rooted in environmental literacy and social-emotional learning. What makes our work so unique is that we’re not just bringing in artists to perform—we’re creating original music, curriculum tools, and cross-disciplinary resources specifically designed for children and educators in isolated, often underserved schools.

One of our most exciting initiatives is the Musical Headwaters series—a seven-album commissioning project where each album focuses on a different nature-based theme (like watersheds, birds, trout, and gardens) and is paired with an illustrated Musical Field Journal. These journals combine lyrics, artwork, journaling prompts, and science-aligned activities that support learning in and out of the classroom. We’ve partnered with multiple school districts, and our work is currently used throughout Sierra-Plumas, Plumas, and Tahoe-Truckee Unified.

This year, we released Garden: A Musical Field Journal, an album inspired by the school garden at Loyalton Elementary and developed while my own son was in kindergarten. It’s a deeply personal project that celebrates themes of growth, care, and connection through music written by my husband and co-artistic director Owen McIntosh. I handpicked an ensemble of parent-musicians—all with children under five—because I wanted this album to come from a place of shared lived experience. Their artistry and love brought it to life in a way that still moves me.

We’re also in the process of revitalizing The Old School House (TOSH) in Loyalton, which will serve as our first permanent home. It will host performances, residencies, student showcases, and public events—and also provide much-needed shared space for other regional nonprofits and civic partners. It’s a big vision for a small town, but one that’s already creating waves of impact.

At its heart, Musica Sierra is about creating meaningful artistic experiences, fostering collaboration between artists, educators, families, and communities, and using the power of music to inspire connection, learning, and stewardship. We believe that music and art are not luxuries—they are human rights, deeply embedded in who we are. Through our work, we aim to make the arts more accessible, equitable, and rooted in the places we love, so that all children—especially those in rural communities—can grow up surrounded by beauty, creativity, and purpose.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are: resilience, collaboration, and vision.

1. Resilience
As a professional musician, especially an oboist, resilience is baked into the process. You’re constantly refining, adjusting, and showing up—whether it’s for hours of practice, high-pressure auditions, or the emotional vulnerability it takes to perform. That carried over into founding and running Musica Sierra. Nothing happens overnight. You’ll face rejections, delays, and doubts, but learning to stay the course, adapt, and trust your instincts is everything.
Advice: Build your internal compass early. Journaling, mentorship, and learning to reframe setbacks as stepping stones are crucial. Give yourself grace, but don’t let go of the goal.

2. Collaboration
From my earliest days in school band, I learned that making music is a team sport. You can’t make harmony alone. That sense of shared responsibility and joy in the process has informed how I build programs, curate ensembles, and work with educators. Collaboration isn’t just about working well with others—it’s about listening deeply, trusting people’s strengths, and knowing when to lead and when to support.
Advice: Say yes to projects that require working with others, even if they’re outside your comfort zone. Watch how great collaborators communicate and stay open to feedback. Generosity and humility go a long way.

3. Vision
Having a strong sense of why has guided everything I do—from founding New Vintage Baroque to reimagining arts education through Musica Sierra. Vision gives your work purpose and momentum, even when the path isn’t clear. It’s what keeps you grounded during hard seasons and helps you inspire others to join your mission.
Advice: Get clear on your values. What breaks your heart? What lights you up? Write it down and revisit it often. A clear vision, even if it evolves, will keep your work anchored in authenticity.

If you’re early in your journey: stay curious, ask for help, and trust that who you are is exactly what your work needs. You don’t have to be perfect to begin—you just have to begin.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was that they were open, supportive, and completely invested in helping me find my artistic voice—even when they didn’t always understand the path I was on. They never pushed me toward something “practical” or conventional. Instead, they encouraged me to explore, dream big, and trust in my creativity.

Their support wasn’t just emotional—it was incredibly hands-on. They’d drive me across the state for honor bands, take me to last-minute music store runs for oboe reeds, sit with me after school to help me learn tough passages, and wait through endless youth orchestra rehearsals and auditions. They showed up again and again, without complaint, and made it clear that my artistic growth was worth the time and effort.

That kind of unconditional belief gave me the confidence to pursue a life in music—to attend Juilliard, to perform around the world, and eventually to return home and build Musica Sierra. Their love gave me both roots and wings, and I carry that same spirit of support and dedication into the work I now do with children, families, and schools.

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