Birth

:

March 20, 1920

Death

:

March 12, 2014

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Ray Still was an American oboist who was widely regarded as one of the greatest oboists of the 20th century. He was born on March 12, 1920, in Elwood, Indiana, and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Still began playing the oboe when he was 12 years old, and he quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. He studied with various teachers, including Robert Mayer and Marcel Tabuteau, and eventually earned a degree in music from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. After graduating from Curtis, Still joined the Kansas City Philharmonic as principal oboist. He later played with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra before joining the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1953. Still spent 40 years with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, during which time he became known for his impeccable technique, beautiful tone, and expressive playing. He was also known for his dedication to his craft, practicing for hours every day and constantly striving to improve his playing. Throughout his career, Still performed with many of the world's leading orchestras and conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Georg Solti, and Sir Georg Solti. He also performed as a soloist and chamber musician, and recorded numerous albums. One of Still's most notable performances was his solo performance of Richard Strauss's Oboe Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1964. The performance was widely praised for Still's beautiful tone and expressive playing, and it helped to establish him as one of the world's leading oboists. Still was also a dedicated teacher, and he taught at various institutions throughout his career, including the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the Northwestern University School of Music, and the University of Southern California. He was known for his rigorous teaching style and his ability to inspire his students to achieve their full potential. In recognition of his contributions to the world of classical music, Still received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1995, and he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Still continued to perform and teach well into his 80s, and he remained an active member of the classical music community until his death on March 12, 2014, at the age of 94. His legacy as one of the greatest oboists of the 20th century continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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