The International Oboe Symposium, held at the University of Miami in Coral Gables June 17 to 23 was an event of unique interest. Julien Balogh, artist in residence and professor of oboe at the university (and formerly a member of the New Orleans Philharmonic, the National Symphony, and the Pittsburgh Symphony) was symposium director, genial host, and informative clinician. Mr. Balogh assembled a group of oboists of world-wide reputation, each of whom spent a day offering master classes on the very highest artistic level.

These distinguished artists - John deLancie, first oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra; John Mack, first oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra; Ray Still, first oboist of the Chicago Symphony; and Robert Bloom, oboist of the Bach Aria Group, professor of oboe at Yale University, and in Julien Balogh's words "the dean of American oboists" - provided a week of unparalleled inspiration and thought provoking information for a large group of advanced students and young professionals.

Each player covered a wide-ranging list of topics - questions of embouchure, vibrato, orchestral pitch, reed-making techniques, approaches to teaching, teaching literature, dynamic control, thoughts on phrasing. Ray Still coached interpretation of important orchestral passages; Robert Bloom discussed his ideas of ornamentation in baroque music; John Mack's performance of the Poulenc Sonata was a high point. The unmistakable influence of Marcel Tabuteau's teaching pervaded the week; his ideals live on in the work of his students. Bravos to Julien Balogh for an extraordinarily successful event.

Photo Captions

1. Robert Bloom with Dan Stolper
2. John Mack demonstrates his reed-making skill
3. Robert Bloom (left) with Julien Balogh
4. Ray Still (left) plays a duet with his student, Vincent Lindgren, first oboist of the Gotheburg (Sweden) Symphony
5. John deLancie lecturing

Photography by Jerome A. Kramer

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