Richard Waller
Encyclopedia
Richard George Waller is an American clarinetist, visual artist and founder/former artistic director of the Linton Chamber Music Series in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 16, 1929 to Thomas and Sonia Castleman Waller.
with Daniel Bonade
, former principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra
and the Cleveland Orchestra
. He was principal clarinetist of the American Ballet Theater Orchestra in 1949-1950, after which, on the advice of Leonard Bernstein
that a musician should also "get a good education", he enrolled at Occidental College
in Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.
He was a member of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. from 1954–1960 and became principal (concertmaster) in 1957. He toured North and South America and played for White House occasions.
under music director Max Rudolf. He became principal clarinetist in 1961. He was soloist with the orchestra many times, performing concertos by Mozart, Carl Nielsen, Aaron Copland (with Copland conducting) and Easley Blackwood (world premiere, 1965); also Debussy's Premiere Rhapsody and Symphony Concertante for Two Clarinets by Ingolf Dahl (world premiere, 1976).
He traveled with Rudolf and the CSO on a round-the-world-tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department in 1966 and on tour in Japan with music director Jesús López-Cobos
in 1990. Waller played under four CSO music directors, Rudolf, Thomas Schippers
, Michael Gielen
and Lopez-Cobos, as well as Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel
. He retired from the orchestra in 1994.
. Through an informal collaboration with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the series presents CSO guest artists and other invited guests to perform chamber music with principal players of the orchestra. Waller became artistic director and performed frequently on the series.
Waller has performed at the Marlboro, Tanglewood, Aspen, Carmel, Banff, Bowdoin and Sarasota music festivals, serving as principal clarinetist of the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra and a member of the artist faculty of the Aspen Music School from 1976-1994. He was coordinator of the House Music Series at the Aspen Festival from 1990-2003. Waller was adjunct professor of clarinet at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
from 1960-1979.
An avid proselytizer for music, Waller and Cincinnati Symphony tubist Michael Thornton formed the "Tonette and Tuba Society" in the early 1980s, later expanding it to "TTX & M" with the addition of CSO percussionist Richard Jensen (xylophone) and CSO double bassist Frank Proto (melodica). The group performed for on-air public radio fund drives, CSO pension fund concerts and the like.
Waller stepped down as artistic director of the Linton Series on February, 2009, when he was succeeded by co-artistic directors Jaime Laredo
and Sharon Robinson
.
Waller has exhibited in Aspen and Cincinnati, where he maintains a studio in Essex Studios on Essex Place. Paintings by Waller are owned by Gil Shaham
, Ann-Marie McDermott and Michael Lubin, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
and Colorado Public Radio president Max Wysick, among others.
He received the Scripps Corbett Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts from the Scripps Foundation in April, 2009.
Waller lives in Cincinnati with his wife Ann Levine Meyers. He has four daughters, Margaret, Deborah, Suzanne and Amy by his first wife, Rosemary Waller.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 16, 1929 to Thomas and Sonia Castleman Waller.
Education and early career
Waller studied clarinet in Long Beach, California with Fred Ohlendorf, Ralph Sarber and Hoyt Mosher. He was also a student of Kalmon Bloch, principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He continued his studies at the Juilliard SchoolJuilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
with Daniel Bonade
Daniel Bonade
Daniel Bonade , a French classical clarinetist and professor of clarinet, was the most influential teacher of classical clarinet of the first generation of American-born professional clarinetists.The first teacher of Bonade was Ferdinand Capelle in Geneva Daniel Bonade (Geneva, April 4, 1896 –...
, former principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
and the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
. He was principal clarinetist of the American Ballet Theater Orchestra in 1949-1950, after which, on the advice of Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
that a musician should also "get a good education", he enrolled at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
in Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.
He was a member of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. from 1954–1960 and became principal (concertmaster) in 1957. He toured North and South America and played for White House occasions.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
In 1960, Waller joined the Cincinnati Symphony OrchestraCincinnati Symphony Orchestra
As the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
under music director Max Rudolf. He became principal clarinetist in 1961. He was soloist with the orchestra many times, performing concertos by Mozart, Carl Nielsen, Aaron Copland (with Copland conducting) and Easley Blackwood (world premiere, 1965); also Debussy's Premiere Rhapsody and Symphony Concertante for Two Clarinets by Ingolf Dahl (world premiere, 1976).
He traveled with Rudolf and the CSO on a round-the-world-tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department in 1966 and on tour in Japan with music director Jesús López-Cobos
Jesús López-Cobos
Jesús López-Cobos is a Spanish conductor.López-Cobos was born in Toro, Zamora, Castile-León, Spain. He studied at Complutense University of Madrid and graduated with a degree in philosophy...
in 1990. Waller played under four CSO music directors, Rudolf, Thomas Schippers
Thomas Schippers
Thomas Schippers was an American conductor. He was highly-regarded for his work in opera.-Biography:...
, Michael Gielen
Michael Gielen
-Professional career:Gielen was born in Dresden, Germany, to opera director Josef Gielen. Through his mother, Rose, he is the nephew of Eduard Steuermann and Salka Steuermann Viertel. He began his career as a pianist in Buenos Aires, where he studied with Erwin Leuchter and gave an early...
and Lopez-Cobos, as well as Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel, Jr. was an American orchestra conductor. Called the "Prince of Pops" by the Chicago Tribune, he performed with a number of leading pops and symphony orchestras, especially the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra , which he led for over 44 years.-Early life and career:Kunzel was born to...
. He retired from the orchestra in 1994.
The Linton Chamber Music Series
In 1978, Waller, violinist Rosemary Waller and members of the First Unitarian Church in Cincinnati founded the Linton Chamber Music SeriesLinton Chamber Music Series
Linton Chamber Music Series is a presenter of chamber music and educational concerts based in Cincinnati, Ohio.-Founding and History:The Linton Series grew out of a special concert in March, 1977 to reward members of Cincinnati's historic First Unitarian Church for a successful fund-raising canvass...
. Through an informal collaboration with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the series presents CSO guest artists and other invited guests to perform chamber music with principal players of the orchestra. Waller became artistic director and performed frequently on the series.
Waller has performed at the Marlboro, Tanglewood, Aspen, Carmel, Banff, Bowdoin and Sarasota music festivals, serving as principal clarinetist of the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra and a member of the artist faculty of the Aspen Music School from 1976-1994. He was coordinator of the House Music Series at the Aspen Festival from 1990-2003. Waller was adjunct professor of clarinet at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
The University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music is the performing arts college of the University of Cincinnati and is one of the nation's leading music conservatories. In its most recent rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cincinnati sixth nationally among university programs...
from 1960-1979.
An avid proselytizer for music, Waller and Cincinnati Symphony tubist Michael Thornton formed the "Tonette and Tuba Society" in the early 1980s, later expanding it to "TTX & M" with the addition of CSO percussionist Richard Jensen (xylophone) and CSO double bassist Frank Proto (melodica). The group performed for on-air public radio fund drives, CSO pension fund concerts and the like.
Waller stepped down as artistic director of the Linton Series on February, 2009, when he was succeeded by co-artistic directors Jaime Laredo
Jaime Laredo
Jaime Laredo is a violinist and conductor. Currently the conductor and Music Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, he began his musical career when he was five years old. In 1948 he came to North America and took lessons from Antonio DeGrass...
and Sharon Robinson
Sharon Robinson
Sharon Robinson is an American songwriter, record producer, and vocalist. She is best known as a frequent writing collaborator with Leonard Cohen, although she has written songs for a number of other artists as well, including Aaron Neville, Diana Ross, Don Henley, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack,...
.
Visual artist
Waller began painting part-time in 1974. It became a major focus in 1996. Self-taught, he works in acrylics and oils on wood, masonite and canvas, utilizing an abstract, free association style. Ranging in size from 8 x 12 feet to 12 x 12 inches, all are entitled "Contrasts" followed by a Roman numeral. The title, which implies a changing, evolving style, was inspired by Béla Bartók's "Contrasts" for Clarinet, Violin and Piano.Waller has exhibited in Aspen and Cincinnati, where he maintains a studio in Essex Studios on Essex Place. Paintings by Waller are owned by Gil Shaham
Gil Shaham
-Biography:Gil Shaham was born in Urbana, Illinois, while his parents, Israeli scientists, were on an academic fellowship at the University of Illinois. His father Jacob was an astrophysicist, and his mother, Meira Diskin, was a cytogeneticist. His sister is the pianist Orli Shaham. He is a...
, Ann-Marie McDermott and Michael Lubin, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
Nadja Rose Catherine Salerno-Sonnenberg is an Italian-born classical violinist, author, and teacher. She is a United States citizen.-Career:...
and Colorado Public Radio president Max Wysick, among others.
Further career and current activities
Waller was instrumental in founding the Chamber Music Network of Greater Cincinnati in February, 2005. He teaches a class, "For the Love of Music," at the Osher Life Learning Institute at the University of Cincinnati and is working on a series of one-minute spots for public radio consisting of funny stories by musicians.He received the Scripps Corbett Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts from the Scripps Foundation in April, 2009.
Waller lives in Cincinnati with his wife Ann Levine Meyers. He has four daughters, Margaret, Deborah, Suzanne and Amy by his first wife, Rosemary Waller.