Last month the sad news reached us of the death of our Honorary Member, Fernand Gillet. He passed away on March 8 at Sherrill House in Boston after having been hospitalized since suffering a stroke in March, 1978.
M. Gillet received his First Prize in Oboe from the Paris Conservatory at age 15, was decorated with the Croix de Guerre by the French government for his service in the French Air Force in World War I, was awarded honorary Doctorates from the New England Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music and was voted honorary membership in the International Double Reed Society in 1975. He was principal oboist of the Lamoureux Orchestra and the Paris Grand Opera for over 20 years before being brought to the United States by Serge Koussevitsky to fill the solo oboist chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1925.
After retiring from the Boston Symphony in 1946, M. Gillet continued to teach at the New England Conservatory, Boston University and the Montreal Conservatory in addition to private lessons at his home until his hospitalization, a teaching career which spanned 75 years. He was the composer/author of Exercises for the Oboe on Scales, Intervals, and Staccato, Vingt Minutes d 'Etude, Exercises for Advanced Oboe Technique and a Practice Method for Studies for the Advanced Teaching of the Oboe by his uncle, Georges Gillet.
M. Gillet is remembered by his students for his devoted perseverance of technical perfection coupled with always superb musical interpretation. His keen intellect, artistry, strength, dignity, kindness, sense of humor, analytical prowess, and continued search in the technique of oboe playing are qualities seldom found in one person.
Fernand Gillet was unique. He will be missed greatly, but the presence of his influence will continue for many, many years.
He is survived by his wife Marie of Brookline, Massachusetts and brother Henri of France.
--Jean Northrup