Wayne Rapier played oboe in the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. He studied at the Eastman School of Music and privately in Philadelphia with the legendary principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Marcel Tabuteau. At 19 Mr. Rapier began his orchestral career as principal oboist of the Indianapolis Symphony and later played in the orchestras of Kansas City, Baltimore, Santa Fe Opera and Philadelphia, prior to joining the Boston Symphony in 1970. He taught at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music and the Longy School of Music. While he was at Oberlin he was a member of the Oberlin Woodwind Quintet and the Oberlin Baroque Ensemble. After his retirement from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Rapier continued to perform and teach, but concentrated his energies on the record company he founded, Boston Records.

Boston Records founder Wayne's Rapier's live performance on October 1, 1989