King Kohli

As one of the nation’s top high school oboists, a celebrated photographer and fashionista throughout campus, senior Stefan Kohli brings a new level of inspiration to the PEA community.Kohli leads the oboe section of the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic as principal oboist, takes photos for various popular brands like Bodega and The Quiet Life and has founded the Exeter Dress Code. In addition, he is a proctor and E-proctor of Cilley Hall, photographer for PEAN and The Exonian, co-head of Exeter Exchange, four-year principal oboist of PEA’s own Symphony Orchestra and participates in various initiatives for sustainability.Despite the rigorous academics and extracurriculars of Exeter, oboe and music have always been a major part of his life. He has been principal oboist of Exeter’s Symphony Orchestra since prep year and was selected as principal oboist of the nationally renowned New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic, working his way up from his position as second oboist in the NEC Youth Symphony prep year and maintaining his spot as first oboist of the NEC Youth Philharmonic since lower year.Kohli’s dedication to music is impressive to say the least. “I’ve gone down to Boston every Saturday for rehearsal and lessons for the past four years. It’s definitely taught me about self discipline and commitment and passion,” Kohli said.Music instructor Benjamin Vickers believed that it was an accomplishment in itself that Kohli has played in the NEC Youth Philharmonic for such a long time. “Stefan has played big leading solo parts in the orchestra, even when they were on tour in Argentina. He had a big interesting parts that required him to get up and walk offstage and play in a different part of the stage,” Vickers said. “That requires a lot of independence as a musician, but it is also a sign of great trust that the orchestra has in him.”“Oboe has had a really big role in my life, and I see music as a universal language that transcends all boundaries.” Kohli said. “I’m also a part of Music For Life, an organization where we go to nursing homes and assisted care facilities and play music for people.”Kohli plans on continuing music in college and potentially pursuing a double degree in music and academics. He is interested in a variety of subjects, including some to which he was introduced at Exeter.“I’m interested in biology, sustainable development and environmental policy,” Kohli said. “I’m currently taking global ethics and human population and resource consumption, which are two of my favorite classes that I’ve taken at Exeter so far because they combine a number of different areas such as economics, biology and policy.”Along with his musical talents, Kohli is an active photographer for various clubs and organizations on campus, such as PEAN and The Exonian. “The school’s Communication Office also recently hired me to take photos,” he said. “I also take pictures for the school website and The Exeter Bulletin.”Senior Tyler Chapman is one of many students on campus who have seen Kohli’s talent in photography. “Stefan’s ability to take great photos is definitely evident and well-known throughout campus. He had a 444 project in the fall that was fantastic,” Chapman said. “For his 444 project he did a series of photographs with shops in town. The idea was to capture the essence of the individual establishments through photography.”Kohli is also known for founding the Exeter Dress Code, a website where Kohli and other staff members post pictures of students dressed fashionably. “I started the Dress Code two years ago with Adela Locsin and Megan Do, and over time we have collected a surprising amount of interest,” Kohli said. “Our goal initially was to spread Exeter’s diversity within the Exeter community, but we have found our blog to reach others even outside of the Exeter community and across social media globally.”As a third-floor proctor in Cilley, Kohli plays a large role as a mentor to both lowerclassmen and fellow upperclassmen.“I remember in late August before school started, when I was still feeling a little uncomfortable about coming here and I didn’t really know anybody, Stefan was the first senior to email me and say, ‘Hey, Will, welcome to Exeter. You are going to love it here. Welcome to the family, welcome to Cilley,’” lower Will Rau said. “Ever since then I have had a really good impression of him. Inside the dorm, he is a great leader to students academically as well. A lot of kids like to go sit on his couch and get help from him. He is really open to others, which makes him a great proctor.”Chapman agreed with Rau on the significant role Kohli plays in the dorm, one he has maintained since prep year.“We’ve spent many long nights staying up, sometimes without sleep, preparing for Latin tests. Those have always been very unique and cherished memories of mine,” Chapman said. “Stefan has some very different and unique tastes and appreciations. He loves his music quite a lot and is a fun guy to talk to and a very compassionate and caring person in the dorm. He is definitely someone worth getting to know.”Besides his role as a leader in the dorm, Kohli actively works for sustainability within the dorm and PEA community as a whole as an E-proctor, member of the Environmental Action Committee and co-head of the Exeter Exchange. “I also did an internship this summer at the conservation law foundation in Boston,” Kohli said. “It gave me some experiential learning where I could use my academic interests in a real world setting.”Kohli is well-liked by most students in the Exonian community. “Stefan is a true people-person,” senior Brian Kim said. “He is outgoing and gets along nicely with everyone. He was a great presence in the newsroom of The Exonian when we worked together, and he knows his photography very well. I also want to give him a shoutout for his photoshoots with Bodega.”