This trailblazing oboist is 100 today and still playing

This trailblazing oboist is 100 today and still playing

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norman lebrecht

February 28, 2021

The pianist Jon Kimura Parker reminds us that today is his mother-in-law’s 100th birthday.

She is the celebrated Laila Storch, first woman oboe student of Marcel Tabuteau at the Curtis Institute, and subsequently principal oboe at the Houston Symphony, Marloboro and the Casals Festivals.

She wrote a biography of Tabuteau and taught at Washington, Bloomington and Beijing.

She is in fine form. This pic below was taken just a few weeks ago.

UPDATE: And this pic was taken today.

Comments

  • Joel Lazar says:

    Wonderful to hear this news. Her book is fantastic. Every good wish, madame, in a saner and healthier future!

  • Nosema says:

    A great lady
    An inspiration
    And we love her book!!!

  • John Borstlap says:

    Amazing!

    If you can manage the oboe, you can manage life.

  • John Kelly says:

    Her book is wonderful, someone is selling one on Ebay I think…..

  • Susan Iadone says:

    Dear Laila-
    Many happy returns…what a milestone! You are an inspiration.
    Warmest regards from my mother, Gilda Tustin, and me-
    Susan Iadone

  • Peter Bowman says:

    I am so sorry I have never met you. Your book on tabuteau is nothing short of amazing. You have given so much and all of us who don’t know you personally we certainly know who you are with gratitude. Happy 100th and live as long as you want. If you can play the oboe at 100 you deserve the Croix de guerre.

  • Roland says:

    Today my mother turns 88. I’m a retired Oboist from Switzerland now living in Hawaii. I will dedicate our today’s Live Stream performance to the two grand old ladies. YouTube “Ohrlando Live from Home”

  • Richard says:

    Stunning! I was an undergrad at the UW starting in 1968–heard her play many times (most often as a member of the Soni Ventorum Woodwind Quintet) and knew many of her students. Just wonderful!

  • Ms.Melody says:

    Happy birthday Maestra,best wishes and many happy returns.

  • Marg says:

    Fantastic! I hope Im still playing my instrument at 100 too!

  • Donald Wright says:

    Good heavens. I remember seeing her all the time in the halls of the University of Washington School of Music; she was a professor of oboe and played in the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet. I had no idea that she was the mother-in-law of Kimura Parker!

  • Larry W says:

    Her gifted daughter is violinist/violist Aloysia Friedmann, wife of pianist Jon Kimura Parker.

  • BrianB says:

    Brava, Laila! I had the great pleasure of meeting her and talking with her. Happy 100!

  • Hilary Britton says:

    Happy Birthday Laila!
    Have a lovely day, Hilary and Michael Britton.

  • Greg Bottini says:

    Why did you censor my comment, Norman?
    Just asking….

  • Greg Bottini says:

    My mistake – Norman didn’t censor me at all.
    My sincere apologies, Norman.

  • Adrian Gnam says:

    Good morning Aloysia, I wish your Mom a very happy 100th birthday. May the joys of the oboe and Marcel Tabuteau ring true in her heart and mind. All best wishes to an extraordinary woman. Her book “How do you expect to play the oboe if you can’t peel a mushroom” has inspired this Tabuteau student and my teaching. She is my hero!!! Very warmest wishues, Adrian Gnam

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