Israel Borouchoff, international
orchestral solo flutist, chamber
musician, and soloist; university
professor; photographer; Israeli
army veteran; and Holocaust
survivor, died May 26, 2015. He
was a charter member of the
NFA, attending the first
convention in Anaheim in 1973,
and served as president two
years later (1975–1976).
“I remember how kind and
encouraging Israel Borouchoff
was to me when I was just starting out in the profession,” said Paula
Robison, international soloist, chamber musician, and recording
artist. “His words were strong and full of humor, and discerning; he
heard the music I was trying to make and let me know that I should
stay the course. at meant so much to me!”
Israel Borouchoff was born in Kiustendil, Bulgaria. In 1943, in World
War II’s wake, he escaped from that country, making his way to
Palestine; he returned to Bulgaria in 1946. Aer completing high
school and study at the Music Conservatory of Sofia (Bulgaria’s
capital), he immigrated to Israel in 1949, where he joined the Israeli
Army as solo flutist of the Army Symphony and Band. He also played
and recorded with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Borouchoff came to the United States in 1955, attending the Juilliard
School of Music on a scholarship provided by the America-Israel
Cultural Foundation. He also joined the Little Orchestra of New York,
freelanced extensively, and recorded for the Book-of-the-Month Club.
In 1958, he accepted the position of solo flutist with the St. Louis
Symphony, where he spent eight seasons. In 1966, he took the same
position with the Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia, staying for two
years before joining the faculty of
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While in Milwaukee, he made
a recording of Prokofiev’s Sonata, Op. 94, and Reinecke’s Undine
Sonata and performed with the Woodwind Arts Quintet.
In 1974, he became professor of flute at Michigan State University
and a member of the school’s Richards Quintet. He held those
positions until he retired in 1992. Borouchoff performed in Europe,
Mexico, Puerto Rico, Israel, China, and throughout the United States,
including a performance at the White House for President Jimmy
Carter.
Following his retirement from Michigan State University, he and his
wife, Sharon Borouchoff, moved to Colorado Springs, where
Borouchoff pursued his passion for photography. He was a
photographer from a very early age and learned how to use a
camera before he learned how to play the flute.
While performing and recording as principal flutist with some of
the greatest conductors and composers of our time—Leopold
Stokowski, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky, Georg Solti, Pierre
Monteux, Zubin Mehta, Charles Munch, Christoph von Dohnanyi,
Pablo Casals, Leonard Bernstein, and many others—he frequently
had his camera next to his music stand during rehearsals to
capture decisive moments when the opportunity arose. His
photographs have won numerous awards and been displayed at
galleries and photo shows in Colorado and New Mexico. ey have
also appeared in prestigious publications such as Leica Fotografie,
Nikon International Photo Contest Annual, Philadelphia Inquirer,
St. Louis Globe Democrat, Milwaukee Journal, and Detroit Free
Press.
One of Borouchoff’s most important projects following his
retirement from Michigan State University was the completion of
an English translation of Italian journalist Gabriel M. Nissim’s 1998
book, The Man Who Stopped Hitler. Dimitar Peshev, the deputy
chairman of the Bulgarian National Assembly during WWII, was
the subject of this book.
Borouchoff’s father, Yako Baruch, was a successful lawyer, Zionist
activist, and Peshev’s childhood friend and law school class-mate.
In 1935, the family moved to Sofia, where Baruch started a new
law practice, and Israel attended the prestigious American Grade
School. Life changed drastically at the end of 1941. The school
closed, Bulgaria’s anti-Semitic Laws for the Defense of the Nation
went into effect, and the family was forced to move first to Sofia’s
ghetto, then later back to Kiustendil. In 1943, Yako Baruch was
instrumental in convincing Dimitar Peshev to prepare a letter of
protest to Prime Minister Bogdan Filov, signed by 42 of his
colleagues, against the deportation of Bulgarian Jews. In spite of
great personal and professional risk to Peshev, the lives of 48,000
Bulgarian Jews were saved by the reversal of the orders to deport
them to concentration camps.
In 2003, Borouchoff was the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual
Holocaust Remembrance Program in Washington, D.C. The
perspective of this special program was the experience of Jews in
Bulgaria during World War II. His translation of The Man Who
Stopped Hitler was recently submitted to the University of Indiana
Press for its consideration.
Israel Borouchoff lived an interesting, multifaceted life. His
example, insight, and artistry influenced the lives and careers of
his many former students. “Israel’s outstanding musicianship, keen
intellect, and proven ability to guide others toward musical
discovery had a profound affect on my development as a flute
player,” said Larry Krantz, founder of the FLUTE list and former
student at Michigan State University. “The direction that my career
eventually took was largely set by his guidance.”
Excerpt from:
FALL 2015 THE FLUTIST QUARTERLY
Israel Borouchoff: 1929–2015
Sonatina in D Op 94 - Prokofiev
Allegro con brio
Israel Borouchoff flute
Lucy Green piano