Birth

:

March 6, 1922 in Streator, IL

Death

:

March 14, 2020 in Lawrence, KS

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Doriot Anthony Dwyer was born on March 6, 1922, in Sharon, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a pianist, and her father played the violin. Dwyer began playing the flute at the age of nine and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Dwyer attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied with William Kincaid, the principal flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. After graduating from Curtis, Dwyer joined the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. as its principal flutist. She held this position for six years before joining the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1952. Dwyer's tenure with the Boston Symphony Orchestra was long and distinguished. She served as the orchestra's principal flutist for 38 years, from 1952 until her retirement in 1990. During her time with the orchestra, Dwyer became known for her beautiful tone and expressive playing. She was also a respected teacher and mentor to many young flutists. Dwyer's career was marked by many highlights and accomplishments. In 1957, she was the first woman to be appointed principal flutist of a major American orchestra. She also performed as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on many occasions, including a performance of Mozart's Flute Concerto in G Major in 1960 that was conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Dwyer was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered many new works for the flute. She gave the world premiere of Elliott Carter's Flute Concerto in 1966 and also premiered works by Lukas Foss, Gunther Schuller, and John Harbison, among others. In addition to her work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dwyer was also a sought-after chamber musician. She was a founding member of the Boston Chamber Music Society and performed with the group for many years. She also played with the Dwyer Trio, which included her husband, violinist Joseph Silverstein, and pianist Randall Hodgkinson. Dwyer's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with many awards and honors. In 1983, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan. She was also a recipient of the Harvard Arts Medal and the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Lifetime Achievement Award. Dwyer's legacy as a musician and teacher continues to inspire generations of flutists. She passed away on March 14, 2020, at the age of 98.

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