Richard Kanter began his oboe-playing career at the age of 14, in 1949, as a student of Robert Mayer, english horn player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After four years, Mr. Kanter was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Marcel Tabuteau and John de Lancie. Upon graduating from Curtis, Mr. Kanter joined the U.S. Navy Band for four years. During those years he traveled to every state in the continental United States. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, based in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the leading orchestras in the world. ... The Curtis Institute of Music is a music school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. ... Marcel Tabuteau (July 2, 1887 - January 4, 1966) is known as the founder of the American school of oboe-playing. ...

After leaving the Navy Band in 1961, Mr. Kanter was appointed second oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. During his years with the CSO, he performed under Fritz Reiner, Jean Martinon, George Solti, and Daniel Barenboim, as well as hundreds of guest conductors. Chicago Symphony tours took Mr. Kanter to many parts of the world, including Europe, Britain, the Soviet Union, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, and Hong Kong. He recently retired from the CSO after a career of 41 years. He is now the oboe and english horn coach with the Asian Youth Orchestra, based in Hong Kong. Fritz Reiner (December 19, 1888 - November 15, 1963) was a symphonic music conductor. ... Jean Martinon (January 10, 1910–March 1, 1976) was a French conductor and composer. ... Sir Georg Solti (October 21, 1912 - September 5, 1997) was a well-known orchestral and operatic conductor, who was still actively engaged in performing right up until his death. ... Daniel Barenboim Daniel Barenboim (born November 15, 1942) is an Argentinean-Israeli pianist and conductor. ...