Background
Still, Ray was born on March 12, 1920 in Elwood, Indiana, United States. Son of Roy R. and Lillian (Taylor) Still.
Still, Ray was born on March 12, 1920 in Elwood, Indiana, United States. Son of Roy R. and Lillian (Taylor) Still.
Student oboe, with P. Memoli, Los Angeles, 1936. Student, Pacific States University, 1943. Student with RBT Bloom, Julliard School Music, 1947.
Professor, of Oboe and. Professor, of Oboe, Northwestern University since 1960. Conductor, Stratford Music Festival, Canada 1964-1969.
Judge international oboe competition, Japan 1988. Has undertaken coaching of many symphony orchestra wind and brass sections.
With Kansas City Symphony, Missouri, 1939-1941, solo oboist, Buffalo Philharmonic, 1947-1949, Baltimore Symphony, 1949-1953, Chicago Symphony first performances Strauss Concerto, Mozart Oboe Concerto, since 1956. Solo oboist Aspen Music Festival, solo recordings, Deutschgram, Concertapes-Concertdiscs, Telder, Virgin Classics. Soloist, Julliard String Quartet, Vermeer Quartet.Mozart oboe concerto recording with D.G. Abbado and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 1987. Concerti for Oboe, Strauss, Bach. Obroe d'Amre Marcello,Bach 3 SIN Virgin Classics (Electric and Music Industries), 1988.Coach, conductor, artist in residence, Stratford, Ontario, Canada Festival, concertized, Japan. Coach windwinds, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, 1968, 70-71, woodwinds, China, Hong Kong, Marlboro Music Festival, 1969-1970, also in Norway, Sweden, Finland and at the Vienna Hochschule (training school for Vienna Philharmonic). Founder Chicago Symphony Winds Players, Quadrangle Chamber Players, University Chicago, 1987.
Baltimore Symphony 1949-1953. Of a Quintet for 100th anniversary of Yamaha Company, recordings, Tour of Japan, judge international oboe competition, Japan 1988.
Collecting classical comedy films, listening to great jazz artists of '20s, '30s and '40s, records of great lieder singers.
Married Mary Brock, October 23, 1940. Children: Mimi, Thomas, Susan, James.