Curtis Mourns the Passing of Stanley Drucker (Clarinet '45)

The Curtis Institute of Music mourns the passing of Stanley Drucker (Clarinet ’45), who died on December 19 at age 93, in Vista, Calif. Regarded as the dean of American orchestral clarinetists, Mr. Drucker joined the New York Philharmonic in 1948 at age 19 where he played more than 10,000 performances in 60 countries during his 60-year tenure with the orchestra.

Born in Brooklyn on February 4, 1929, he received his first clarinet at age 10, and through the support of his teacher Leon Russianoff, left the High School of Music and Art to attend Curtis at age 15. He then won positions as principal clarinet of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Adolf Busch Chamber Players, and Buffalo Philharmonic before joining the New York Philharmonic as assistant principal in 1948—lovingly nicknamed “Junior,” and later “Stanley Steamer” by his colleagues.

In 1960 he was appointed principal clarinet by Leonard Bernstein (Conducting ’41). His career highlights include 191 solo appearances, 64 performances of Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, the first performances of the clarinet concertos by William Bolcom and John Corigliano, and more than a dozen acclaimed recordings. Upon his retirement in 2009, Mr. Drucker was included in the Guinness World Records for “longest career as a clarinetist” and named an Honorary Member of the New York Philharmonic.

Praised by Gustavo Dudamel as “a legend” and Lorin Maazel as an artist who “stands alone in the world of clarinetists,” over six decades he played for numerous Philharmonic directors, including Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, and Maazel. Twice nominated for a GRAMMY Award (1981, 1991), Mr. Drucker also received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Florida.

He will be sorely missed by the Curtis community. We extend our sympathies to his wife, Naomi; his children; family; friends; and colleagues.

Read a tribute to Mr. Drucker in The New York Times HERE.

View a photo retrospective from the New York Philharmonic HERE.

Photo credits: 1.) Banner image by Stephanie Berger, June 4, 2009. 2.) Courtesy of Buffet Crampon. 3.) Mr. Drucker with Leonard Bernstein in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in about 1967. Mr. Bernstein was just one of the Philharmonic’s renowned music directors for whom Mr. Drucker played. Bert Bial/New York Philharmonic Archives