In Sunday’s (10/23) Cincinnati Enquirer, Janelle Gelfand writes, “George Russell Hambrecht was one of the great flutists of American orchestras, a teacher of pre-eminent symphony musicians and a popular co-host for ‘WMKV Goes to the Pops’ for WMKV-FM (89.3). Mr. Hambrecht, who was principal flutist for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for more than 28 years, died Oct. 13 at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. The cause was complications from a broken hip. He was 87. … Known for his pleasant personality and the warm, golden tone of his flute, Mr. Hambrecht was appointed the CSO’s principal flute in 1962. The Syracuse, N.Y., native first studied flute with his father, Henry J. Hambrecht, who played in the Syracuse Symphony. … While studying music and engineering at Syracuse University, Mr. Hambrecht was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, and served from 1943-46. … After the war, Mr.Hambrecht earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Before coming to Cincinnati, he played in the Rochester Philharmonic under Erich Leinsdorf. From 1955 to 1962, he was second flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell. He was principal flute of the Buffalo Symphony under Josef Krips for a season before maestro Max Rudolf hired him for the Cincinnati Symphony.”
Posted October 26, 2011
