Ray Still

Ray Still (b. Elwood, March 12, 1920 - d. Woodstock, Vermont, March 12, 2014) -- Oboist. Still moved with his family to Los Angeles as a teenager and became inspired to switch from clarinet to oboe at age sixteen after ushering for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was particularly influenced by the "singing" style of principal oboist Henri de Busscher. After studying at Juilliard for two years, playing with the second oboe with the Kansas City Philharmonic (1939-41), and serving in the Army, Still began his long career of playing of playing principal oboe with major orchestras. He was with the Buffalo Philharmonic (1947-49) and Baltimore Symphony (1949-53). He is most remembered for his time with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which he joined as assistant first oboe in 1953. The next year, he was promoted to principal oboe, a position he held until 1993. During his forty-year tenure, he played under Fritz Reiner, Jean Martinon, Georg Solti, and Daniel Barenboim. He was also an active chamber music performing appearing at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, the Marlboro Festival in Vermont, and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario. Lastly, he taught aspiring oboists throughout his career at the Peabody Institute (1949-53), Roosevelt University in Chicago (1954-1957), and Northwestern University (1960-2003). Surrounded by family members, he died peacefully at his home in Vermont on his ninety-fourth birthday listening to Bach's St. Matthew Passion.