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Bill Parrish
A Washington D.C. native who grew up in Lynchburg, Va., Bill Parrish holds
bachelor's and master's degrees in oboe. He taught at the University of
Missouri and played in the Kansas City Wind Quintet. He spent a year working
toward a doctorate in Michigan before running out of money and heading to New
York in 1991 to work as retail manager for The Body Shop's flagship store on
Fifth Avenue.
How long have you worked at Juilliard, and what do you remember about your
first day?
I started in August 1995. My first day was the day before Pre-College
registration, and I remember answering about 9,000 phone calls with little or
no information. I learned quickly, but it was the proverbial "baptism by fire."
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| Bill Parrish on a trip to Florence in 1998. |
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What job at Juilliard would you like to try out for a day and why?
I would try just about any job where you were not reachable by phone—for one
day, that would be nice.
What is the strangest or most memorable job you've ever had and what made
it so?
Probably bartending at an after-hours club in Philadelphia, because the people
and the scene were wildly entertaining and the whole experience was great for
my social life. It was one of the first times I had a personal identity that
was not based on the oboe.
If out of the blue your boss said to take the day off, what would you do
with your free time?
I would go directly home and work on reeds, then I'd play with my dogs.
How do you balance your job and your artistic endeavors?
Since I play the oboe and English horn, I have a pretty regimented practice
routine in order to keep my playing competitive and two sets of reeds
functional. I try to spend the better part of an hour in the early morning
scraping and squawking on reeds before I leave for work. When I get home, I
practice for two hours every night. I'm very lucky to work with such an
understanding and supportive staff in the Pre-College Office. I also have no
social life.
What kind of performances do you prefer to attend and why?
I definitely prefer theater, dance, and cinema. I fear one-dimensionality so I
don't usually seek out a classical musical performance, unless it's opera.
What other pursuits are you passionate about?
Food and my family. Cooking takes me away from the oboe, which is a good
thing, because it is so easy to obsess with reeds and equipment. I love to
cook for and with friends and family. I find the whole process incredibly
spiritual and creative. I am most drawn to the foods of the American South (I
make a mean shrimp and grits) and the entire Mediterranean region.
Where have you traveled that you most enjoyed, and why?
Before I moved to Cincinnati, I lived in Florence for six months with my best
friend. We had an apartment and no agenda other than to "recharge" our
spirits. Living in Italy (as opposed to vacationing) is a remarkable
experience. We visited churches and galleries, hung out and drank local red
wine with neighbors, smoked cigarettes and ate gelato in various piazzas,
shopped daily for food in the outdoor markets, rode buses and trains to other
Tuscan and Umbrian hill towns, took black-and-white photos of cemeteries and
statues, cooked in the peasant style, and basically absorbed as much
Florentine culture as possible. I highly recommend going abroad and not being
a tourist!
What is your proudest accomplishment in life?
I was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra English horn audition in
1999.
What might people be surprised to know about you?
I'm a closet writer. I get up very early and write every day—sometimes on the
train into the city—capturing my thoughts and observations about New York and
the people I see. Usually they're just vignettes, but sometimes they evolve
into a story. I hope someday to publish and move to a beach house in Hawaii.
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