Leonard Sharrow. Former Chicago Symphony Orchestra musician Leonard Sharrow, 89, August 9 in Cincinnati of acute leukemia. Known as the best bassoonist of his generation, he had a distinguished career as symphony musician and teacher. Born August 4, 1915 in New York, he was a member of the country’s top symphony orchestras from 1935 until 1987, including the NBC (together with his violinist father, Saul Sharrow, under Toscanini), Detroit, Chicago (principal bassoon 1951-64 under Kubelik and Reiner) and Pittsburgh Symphonies. During World War II, he was a member of the all-soldier orchestra for “This is the Army,” Irving Berlin’s Broadway musical, subsequently made into a film with Ronald Reagan. His 1948 RCA recording of Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto stands as the definitive performance of the piece and continues to inspire young bassoonists. He made other solo recordings, in addition to recording with the NBC, Chicago and Pittsburgh orchestras. Highly sought after as a teacher, Mr. Sharrow sent many students on to orchestras and teaching positions around the world. From 1964 until 1977 he taught full-time at Indiana University. He also taught at Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon, Pennsylvania State, and numerous summer music festivals in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan. Following his retirement, he returned to Indiana, moving to Cincinnati in 1999, and continued teaching until his death. Emily Sharrow, his wife of 58 years, died in 2001. Surviving him are one son, Neil Sharrow, of Cincinnati; a sister, Frances Nelson of N. Hollywood, California; and two granddaughters, Emily Louise and Sally Sharrow of Cincinnati.
