Ralph Gomberg

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Ralph Gomberg (June 18, 1921 – December 9, 2006) was the principal oboist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a job he held for 37 years (1950–1987).

He was born in the West End of Boston and was the youngest of seven siblings. The family moved to Philadelphia so another brother could study violin at the Curtis Institute. Ralph began studying the oboe there at age 14 with Marcel Tabuteau, and he was the youngest student Tabuteau ever accepted. He graduated from Curtis.

At 18 he became the first oboist in an All-American youth orchestra led by Leopold Stokowski. In 1941, Eugene Ormandy recruited him to play for the U.S. Navy in Baltimore. After a year he moved to Los Angeles to care for an ailing brother. While there, Leonard Bernstein hired him by phone as the first oboist for the City Center Orchestra in New York. While in New York, Gomberg also played for the Mutual Broadcasting Orchestra, helped found the New York Woodwind Quintet, and co-founded the Boston Symphony Chamber Players.

In 1950 he joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra and served as principal oboe for 37 years. He also taught at Boston University, the New England Conservatory, and the Tanglewood Music Center as an adjunct professor. His students went on to play in major orchestras around the world.

Gomberg died at 85 in a Massachusetts hospice from primary lateral sclerosis. His wife Sydelle was the director of the Boston Ballet School.