Flute legend dies, at 99
RIPThe death has been communicated of Walfrid Kujala, author of The Flutist’s Progress and teacher of many of America’s top players.
Kujala joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Fritz Reiner in 1954 as second flute and became principal piccolo in 1958, playing in the orchestra until 2001. He joined Northwestern University as professor of flute in 1962, teaching for exactly 50 years.
He cited Ernest Wagner, principal piccolo of the New York Philharmonic under John Barbirolli, as a major influence. As a kid in Clarksburg, West Virginia, he listened to their concerts on the radio every Sunday.
A fine player and teacher. RIP.
A true legend! I was lucky enough to have some coachings with him (even though I was a cellist at NU). Such an insightful artist and a gentle soul. RIP.
In his early years, Mr. Kujala might also have heard broadcasts from Philadelphia or the the Boston Symphony. Now it is rare to hear any U.S. orchestras in performance on the radio — certainly not on commercial stations.
He might’ve also heard broadcasts from the Detroit Symphony. They were the first U.S. orchestra with regular radio broadcasts.
Rest in peace, Wally!
While I am not a flutist, Wally was a fixture seated near the front (stage left) row at nearly every orchestra and wind ensemble concert when I was a student at NU. He was a kind man and a beloved teacher.
A wonderful gentleman and a consummate musician. Truly a legend. My father, a bassoonist, went to high school with him, and spoke fondly of his friend “Wally.” Wally’s father was a bassoonist, and a mentor and early teacher of my father’s. Wally made his career in the Midwest, but our family moved to New England. I get did to meet him once after a concert at Ravinia. My grandfather, an alum of the 1st violin sections of the Boston Symphony and the Cincinnati Symphony, was the conductor of the local symphony and was Wally’s first symphonic conductor. Mr. Kujala spoke highly of my grandfather’s influence on him as very young musician. Rest in peace, dear Mr. Kujala.
I studied with Mr. Kujala at summer programs in Canada and Seattle. He taught me so much about alternate fingerings and musical details.
RIP Mr
One of the most distinctive voices in the CSO. RIP.
But “Ernest Wagner, principal piccolo of the New York Philharmonic under John Barbirolli?!” A minute’s googling will show that he was piccolo under Mahler — and Mengelberg, and Toscanini…
I did a minute of googling and found out he started in the 1930’s, which was during Barbirolli’s tenure. Maybe do some more googling?
NYPO 1903-1944.
https://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/aed2cd02-6398-4421-9d96-b3e0a2a81bce-0.1/fullview#page/1/mode/2up
A fabulous musician and a wonderful human being. RIP, Wally.
In the late 1980s Kujala’s many current and former students commissioned Gunther Schuller to write a concerto for him, which he premiered with Solti and CSO. It got a few other performances but doesn’t seem to have taken off – no recordings on Youtube, anyway. I thought it was pretty good.
A life superbly well lived. I was extremely fortunate to be his colleague.
Kind person. Great teacher and musician. The end of an era!
Was he related to another flautist Steve Kujala?
Yes, Steve Kujala is his son.
His father, I believe.
Steven is/was WK’s son.
Yeah, he’s Steve’s dad!
Steve is Wally’s son
Yes. Steve is his son.
Does that spell of “the end” blown flute?
There are many great musicians from the same time in the CSO! Incredibly, two are still there including the 85 year old principal trombone. I was very fortunate to share the stage.