Richard Killmer is Professor of Oboe at the renowned Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester and has been recognized as one of the greatest oboists of the past fifty years. He was the principal oboist for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for 11 years.
In 2011, Dr. Killmer was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the International Double Reed Society, and this year the international professional music society Mu Phi Epsilon, will honor him as their “Musician of the Year.”
In addition to being an unparalleled performer, Richard is an outstanding educator. He is the 2006 recipient of the Yale School of Music’s Gustave Stoeckel Excellence in Teaching award. He also served as a Visiting Professor of Oboe at Yale for six years. Many of Richard’s former students have earned major teaching and performing positions in universities and symphony orchestras throughout the United States.
As a Professor at Eastman, students and faculty hold Richard in the highest esteem. Recently, more than 70 first-year oboists auditioned for the six available spaces in his program.
“From his start as my student-teacher in Longmont, Colorado, to his steady and solid rise to a professional performer and superb teacher of music and oboe, he has been revered by an endless number of students and professionals throughout the United States and other countries,” said Kenneth Evans, Emeritus Professor of Music at UNC.
Richard has played with the Boston Symphony, Oklahoma City Symphony and Mainly Mozart Festival of San Diego, among others. During his three years in the Army he was principal oboist with the NORAD Band and baritone saxophonist in the NORAD Commander’s Dance Band, performing on numerous recordings and television programs.
