Michel Debost, Legendary Flute Professor and Performer, Dies at 92

Michel Debost, an internationally celebrated flutist who taught at Oberlin from 1989 until his retirement in 2011, died May 2 in his native France. He was 92.

Debost leaves behind a legacy as an exemplary performer, teacher, and colleague. As a young musician, he studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he won first prize in flute, an honor followed by top honors in the international competitions of Prague, Munich, Moscow, Geneva, and Turin.

He was the longtime principal flutist of the Orchestre de Paris from its founding in 1967 until 1989, a legendary soloist, and a revered professor at the Paris Conservatory, where he succeeded fellow luminary Jean-Pierre Rampal. He recorded a wealth of flute repertoire for EMI and a variety of other labels.

"As a musician, he was, of course, extraordinary: a truly commanding flute player with a huge, resonant sound, exceptional control of the air, and a deep musical intelligence," says Professor of Clarinet Richard Hawkins, a longtime colleague and friend of Debost.

At Oberlin, Debost developed Prima Vista, a woodwind quintet reading course that remains a central part of the first-year curriculum.

"Students consistently point to it as a transformative experience, and Michel had a remarkable gift for teaching the art of sight-reading with both rigor and encouragement," says Hawkins.

Among the generations of Oberlin flute students taught by Debost are Grammy Award-winners Claire Chase ’01, who went on to co-found the International Contemporary Ensemble, and Molly Barth ’97 of Eighth Blackbird.

“He taught with tremendous passion throughout his career, and his devoted students demonstrate success across a remarkably wide range of careers and playing styles,” says Professor of Flute Alexa Still, who succeeded Debost on the Oberlin faculty.

Hawkins reflected on Debost’s impact with colleagues on the morning after his passing. "Many of us found ourselves thinking about Michel, his larger-than-life personality, and his extraordinary capacity to work tirelessly with so many students," he says. "He was a wonderful colleague—gracious, elegant, and always impeccably dressed in suits and ties—and he was especially kind to me when I first arrived at Oberlin."

Debost is survived by his wife, renowned flutist and professor Kathleen Chastain, who also taught at Oberlin from 1993 until her retirement in 2013.

A memorial in honor of Debost will be planned at Oberlin, with details to follow in Campus Digest.