Flutists from some of the most esteemed ensembles throughout the United States will gather at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music to pay tribute to their former teacher and mentor Robert Willoughby, the “American Grandmaster of the flute” (Flute). The emeritus professor of flute, his former students, and the conservatory community will celebrate Willoughby’s 90th birthday with a concert in his honor on Saturday, October 15 at 4:00 p.m. in Warner Hall (77 West College Street); the concert is free and open to the public.
“We are honored to celebrate the remarkable legacy of such a legendary teacher who inspired so many of the renowned flutists of today,” says Dean of the Conservatory David H. Stull. “We are thrilled to welcome Robert and his many gifted former students to Oberlin and wish him a very happy 90th birthday.”
“With each Willoughby student, the mold is broken and a star is born,” declares the Boston Globe. His illustrious teaching career has produced some of the world’s top flutists including Robin McKee, Janet See, and Carol Wincenc, in addition to the numerous artists who fill principal seats in celebrated orchestras across the country, among them Mark Sparks (St. Louis Symphony), Tim Day (San Francisco Symphony), Aralee Dorough (Houston Symphony), Philip Dikeman (Detroit Symphony), Adam Kuenzel (Minnesota Orchestra), Kazuo Tokito (Philadelphia Orchestra), and Mary Kay Fink (Cleveland Orchestra). A complete roster of flutists performing on the October 15 concert follows this release.
Recipient of the 1996 National Flute Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, Willoughby served as assistant principal flute of the Cleveland Orchestra under the baton of legendary George Szell and was principal flute of the Cincinnati Symphony under the direction of Max Rudolph. As professor of flute at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music for nearly four decades, Willoughby was a founding member of the Oberlin Baroque Ensemble and Oberlin Woodwind Quintet, in addition to serving as a long-time faculty member of the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. He is considered both a pioneer of baroque flute playing in this country and a champion of new music, taking an active role in commissioning and performing new works.
His broadly recognized discography includes extensive recordings on the Boston Records label such as Mostly French, Revelations, and a compilation of works by composers Albert Roussel, Max Reger, and Gabriel Pierné. A frequent collaborator with numerous Oberlin faculty members, among them oboist James Caldwell, cellist Catharina Meints, and harpsichordist Fenner Douglas, in 2004 Willoughby released a compilation of performances from the archives at Oberlin College on the National Flute Association’s Historic Recordings Series (Volume Three). A prolific writer, he has published numerous articles in publications including Flute Talk and the Instrumentalist. His esteemed performing career and contributions to the flute world is highly celebrated by trade journals around the world including the National Flute Association’s Flutist Quarterly and Flute, the Journal of the British Flute Society.
A native of Iowa, Willoughby’s early musical experiences at the Interlochen Arts Academy led him to pursue a degree at the Eastman School of Music, which he received in 1942. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a pilot in World War II. Following two-and-a-half years flying B 24’s (including 35 missions over Germany), he returned to his flute training, earning a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory.
Following his tenure at Oberlin, Willoughby was a member of the faculty at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore for ten years. Now 90 years old, Willoughby continues to teach at the Longy School of Music in Boston.
Tribute concert featured performers
Tim Day ’74, San Francisco Symphony
Philip Dikeman ’85, Vanderbilt University
Greer Ellison ’74, UC Santa Cruz, Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra of the West
Mary Kay Fink ’83, The Cleveland Orchestra
Leonard Garrison ’79, University of Idaho
Adrianne Greenbaum ’70, Mount Holyoke College
Adam Kuenzel ’81, Minnesota Orchestra
Robin McKee ’76, San Francisco Symphony
Wendy Rolfe-Dunham ’74, Berklee College of Music
Mark Sparks ’82, St. Louis Symphony
Patricia Spencer ’65, Da Capo Chamber Players
Jed Wentz ’81, Musica ad Rhenum
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