Richard Killmer
Richard Killmer is professor of oboe at the Eastman School of Music. Prior to coming to Rochester, Richard Killmer was principal oboist of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for 11 years. Killmer was also a member the faculty of the Yale School of Music from 2000 to 2006 as visiting professor of oboe.
In 1960 Killmer received a bachelor of arts in music education from Colorado State College. Upon graduation he became orchestra director of the Longmont, Colorado public schools, a post he held until entering the U.S. Army in 1962. 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.
After completion of his service duty, Killmer attended the Yale School of Music where he studied oboe with Robert Bloom and received his master of music, master of musical arts, and doctorate of musical arts designations. He has served as a jury member for the first Lucarelli Oboe Competition, the first Gillet Oboe Competition, and for several International competitions, including those in Geneva, Tokyo, and Prince Edward Island (Canada), as well as competitions in Midland-Odessa, Texas, South Bend, Indiana, and New York City. In 2005 Richard Killmer traveled to the Czech Republic to participate in the Ostrava Oboe Festival and will be a member of the jury for the 2008 Prague Oboe Competition.
Principal oboist of the Oklahoma City Symphony from 1967-1970, Killmer has also been principal oboist of the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, and the Boston Chamber Music Society, as well as guest first oboe with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. During past summers, Killmer has performed at the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, the Banff Centre, the Norfolk (Connecticut) Chamber Music Festival, and the Sarasota Music Festival.
Joining the Eastman School of Music faculty in 1982, Richard Killmer was awarded the school's 1984-1985 Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2006 was awarded the Gustave Jacob Stoeckel Award from the Yale School of Music, also for Excellence in Teaching.
