Lois Wann
Lois Wann (1912 – February 23, 1999) was an American oboist and oboe teacher who was one of the well-known American oboists of the 20th century. She was an early example both of a woman who played the oboe in a professional American orchestra and of a woman principal in a professional orchestra. Early life and education. Wann was born in 1912 in Monticello, Minnesota. The family moved to San Diego, where she was raised by her mother after her father's death. Wann learned the piano from the age of six, and later taught herself the oboe . After leaving school, she studied both instruments in Los Angeles for two years. In 1933, she moved to New York, where she attended the Juilliard School, graduating in 1936. She also attained higher degrees from Juilliard. Career. Before the Second World War in America, women instrumental players were discriminated against and were rarely able to play in mainstream orchestras. Wann's early orchestral work thus came in recently founded, segregated all-women orchestras: the Orchestrette Classique (from shortly after its foundation in 1932) and the New York Women's Symphony Orchestra (founded in 1934 by Antonia Brico). She performed as  a soloist with both these orchestras, and as a guest soloist, in Handel's Oboe Concerto in G minor; a review for the "New York Times" of a 1939 performance states that she "displayed her accustomed command of the instrument and knowing musicianship". In the mid-1930s, Wann gained a position at the San Diego Symphony, becoming an early example of a woman principal in a professional orchestra. During a long performing career, she was also principal oboist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and Les Concerts Symphoniques of Montreal , Canada. She also played in orchestras associated with the Aspen Music Festival (1951–57) and the Marlboro Music Festival. In 1953, she was described as among "New York's best freelancers", after performing in Handel's "Ode for St Cecilia's Day" with the Cantata Singers, conducted by Alfred Mann. As a chamber musician, Wann performed with the Budapest and Juilliard string quartets, as well as the New Friends of Music Chamber Orchestra, Bach Circle, Adolf Busch Chamber Players and the Four Seasons Ensemble. She was associated with performing early music. She premiered Alberto Ginastera's "Duo" for flute and oboe  with Carleton Sprague Smith in 1947. Darius Milhaud wrote his "Sonatina for Oboe and Piano" for her, and she gave its first performance in 1955. Her recordings include Mieczyslaw Kolinski's "Dahomey Suite for Oboe and Piano", with the composer. Wann was an oboe teacher in New York, teaching at the Juilliard School (1936–92), Mannes College of Music (1946–76), Vassar College, Manhattanville College, Henry Street Settlement and the United Nations International School. Notable pupils include the oboist Ronald Roseman (1933–2000). Personal life. In 1942 she married Aaron Bodenhorn; they had two daughters. Wann died on February 23, 1999 in Bronxville , New York.