Willard Somers Elliot

Who was Willard Somers Elliot?

Willard Somers Elliot was an American bassoonist and composer. He was the bassoonist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, bassoonist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, principal bassoonist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and principal bassoonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Elliot composed and twice performed the Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under conductors Seiji Ozawa and Jean Martinon.

During his 32 uninterrupted years as principal bassoonist with the Chicago Symphony, Elliot performed as a soloist under Sir George Solti, Seiji Ozawa, Jean Martinon, Antonio Janigro, Carlo Maria Giulini, Morton Gould, Lawrence Foster, and Claudio Abbado. He recorded the Mozart Concerto for Deutsche Grammophon, conducted by Abbado.

Elliot was also a member of the Chicago Symphony Chamber Wind Players, Chicago Symphony Winds and the Chicago Pro Musica, which won a Grammy Award in 1986 for the Best New Classical Artist.