Laila Storch

Laila Storch

Laila Storch is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with Marcel Tabuteau. She was principal oboist for the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Professor of Oboe at the University of Washington Conservatory of Music, a long-standing member of the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet, and held many other distinguished positions. She has written numerous oboe related articles.

In 2008 she authored the acclaimed book Marcel Tabuteau: How Do You Expect to Play the Oboe If You Can’t Peel a Mushroom?, considered one of the great music biographies of our time. Having amassed a large collection of Tabuteau material, she is graciously sharing it with the public through this website. Laila Storch discusses in great detail her work with Marcel Tabuteau and the Tabuteau System:

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What's New!

An audio interview with Joan Browne (Champie), a private Tabuteau student in the early 1950s.

A photograph of the music stand that was in Tabuteau’s private studio in Philadelphia.

An autographed photo of Marcel Tabuteau inscribed to Vladimir Sokoloff.

An autographed photo of Marcel Tabuteau inscribed to Joan Browne Champie.

With the passing of Wilbur Isaac Hilles in August 2023 and now Martha Scherer-Alfee in February 2024, no oboe students of Marcel Tabuteau at the Curtis Institute are still living.

A letter sent to the Curtis Institute by Laila Storch’s mother about Tabuteau not teaching at Curtis—and the reply.