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June 2010 Hot News
21 June 2010
Chamber
Music Northwest Celebrates 40th Anniversary Season with Director and
Acclaimed Clarinetist David Shifrin Celebrating his 30th Year as Music
Director |
Portland, Oregon USA
Chamber Music
Northwest turns 40 this year, and David Shifrin marks
his 30th anniversary as music director. The summer festival
proper, which opens June 21 at Reed University's
Kaul Auditorium, will celebrate with world premieres,
old favorites and old friends, but the spotlight Friday
night was on Shifrin, in a cozy gathering at
The Woods,
the former funeral home turned music venue in Southeast's
Westmoreland neighborhood.
Shifrin typically
plays weighty classics of the clarinet repertoire during the
festival -- works such as Mozart's Clarinet Quintet and
Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time," both of
which are on the schedule later this month. Friday's
easygoing program featured other fare. He called it
"Clarinet Kaleidoscope," reflecting its wide range of
styles, but he admitted afterward that he'd originally
thought of it as "Clarinet Candy," which was fitting for a
handful of bon-bons.
Music by three of clarinetists' favorite composers
opened the evening. Mozart, who gets credit for
writing the first great works for the then-new
instrument in the 18th century, was represented by
adaptations of two arias from "The Marriage of
Figaro" and movements from divertimenti for two
clarinets and bassoon (Portland
Youth Philharmonic music director David Hattner
joined on clarinet and PYP alum Keith Buncke on
bassoon). Pianist Elizabeth Harcombe joined Shifrin
for the rest, beginning with Claude Debussy's
brilliant Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano and two
classic Benny Goodman tunes, "A Smooth One" and
"Rachael's Dream."
Shifrin remarked from the
stage that people often ask whether he plays klezmer
music -- he doesn't usually, but he proceeded to in
the form of Béla Kovács' "Shalom Alekhem Rov Feidman,"
written for the Argentinean klezmer great Giora
Feidman. A tribute from one clarinet legend to
another, it captured the soulful melancholy that
seems built in to the instrument.
Most of the rest consisted of
raids into other instruments' territory: the Texas
fiddle tune "Midnight on the Water;" the famous oboe
opening to Bach's Cantata 156; Lennon and
McCartney's "Hey Jude" (mercifully, Shifrin kept the
"na na na" bit to a minimum); and transcriptions of
Italian opera arias. He wrapped up with a bravura
clarinet showpiece, Gioacchino Rossini's
Introduction, Theme and Variations.
Throughout, the recital was a
display of superb clarinet chops-quick fingerwork,
colorful tone, big register leaps, liquid legatos,
melting pianissimos, and even a bit of circular
breathing in the Rossini. Harcombe's piano was
big-with the lid raised, it barely fit on the tiny
stage of what used to be the funeral home's
chapel-but her sound was soft and her accompaniment
sensitive.
-- James
McQuillen
Now in his 30th year as Artistic Director of Chamber
Music Northwest, David Shifrin was honored in
October 2000 with the coveted Avery Fisher Prize.
One of America’s most sought-after clarinetists, Mr.
Shifrin enjoys an active career as soloist,
recording artist, chamber music collaborator, and
educator. In 1989 he became an Artist-Member of the
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and from
1992-2004 he also served as the Society’s Artistic
Director, concurrently with his role with Chamber
Music Northwest.
Highly acclaimed as a chamber musician, Mr. Shifrin
frequently collaborates with the world’s leading
ensembles, including the Guarneri and Tokyo String
Quartets. Festival appearances as a leading soloist
and chamber performer include Mostly Mozart, the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Music from Angel
Fire, and the Seattle and La Jolla Chamber Music
Festivals.
He also has held principal clarinet positions with
several orchestras, including the Cleveland
Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the
American Symphony, and the Dallas and Honolulu
Symphony Orchestras. As guest soloist, Mr. Shifrin
has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra,
Minnesota Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Milwaukee
Symphony, the New York Chamber Symphony, Calgary and
Edmonton Philharmonics, and abroad with the Berlin
and Bavarian Radio Orchestras.
Winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1987, Mr.
Shifrin has been named a winner in several
competitions, including the 1977 International
Competition in Munich, the Geneva International
Competition, and in this country the National
Federation of Music Clubs and the Concert Artists
Guild Award. He also has been a recipient of a solo
recitalists fellowship grant from the National
Endowment for the Arts.
A native of New York City, Mr. Shifrin is a graduate
of the Curtis Institute of Music. He has studied
clarinet under Robert Marcellus, Mitchell Lurie,
Anthony Gigliotti and Herbert Blayman. He has served
on the music faculties of University of Michigan,
the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of
Southern California, and the Juilliard School. He is
currently on the faculty of the Yale University
School of Music.
Mr. Shifrin is a recording artist with Delos, Angel
and Nonesuch Records. His Delos compact disc
recording of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the
Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and the Clarinet
Quintet with CMNW artists received a "Record of the
Year" Award in 1986 from Stereo Review Magazine. In
addition, he has received two Grammy nominations, in
1983 and 1989, in the chamber music and concerto
categories.
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Emotional Tribute
to Dr Etheridge for his 35 years in building this Symposium presented by his
former students and Professionals throughout the USA
17 - 19 June 2010
University of Oklahoma 35th
Clarinet Symposium - David
Etheridge, Director
Norman, Oklahoma USA
Probably the most noteworthy and memorable symposium since its inception 35
years ago, and the cumulative product of the work of its Director Dr David
Etheridge, had accomplished a climactic result having many of the finest
performer legend performers and teachers on this campus for 3 days of intensive
activity. Programs and galleried photos attest to what happened this week.
Among the legends included Stanley Drucker of the New York Philharmonic, Larry
Combs of the Chicago Symphony, Alessandro Carbonare from the St Cecilia
Orchestra of Rome and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Dimitri Ashkenazy from the
Russian Republic, Jehuda Gilad, world class pedagogue from the University of
California, and several others who are no less important in their credentials in
the field. A special tribute session was presented to David Etheridge from
his students and professional colleagues celebrating his impact and contribution
with a Book of messages personally signed by un-numbered admirers, with
testimonials given to him personally in the Recital Hall before the
participants. Larry Combs, Anne Luyben, and several students came on stage
to laud him. One student made a telling tribute that of all the heroes of
the clarinet she has seen here in the last several years, her real hero was her
teacher here at Oklahoma.
Larry Guy on Finger development and
Technique and Julie DeRoche Master Class on Clarinet Fundamentals
Jehuda Gilad Master
Class
Stanley Drucker Master
Class
Larry Combs Master Class
Alessandro Carbonare
Master Class
As with many previous conferences here, the same program formats and events took
place, such as Master Classes with faculty including Larry Guy (Vassar College),
Julie DeRoche (DePaul University), Larry Combs, Alessandro Carbonare, Jehuda
Gilad, and Stanley Drucker. All participating students were
pre-arranged for each class. Lectures on Clarinet topics were also
presented as well.
Industry exhibits covering two rooms like past years included the major Clarinet
makers, accessory producers, Sheet music dealers, and repair services provided
for instrument adjustments. During the 3 days, everyone visited these
rooms and tried out clarinets, mouthpieces, and all else that was available.
A student Competition was held with winners recognized and presented prizes
including Ben Armato's Reed Wizard and the Perfecta Reed measuring device.
Ben Redwine of Redwine Jazz presided on the Competition.
Paulo Sergio
Santos in Finale Concert with Caio Marcio Santos, Guitar
Several Recitals and Concerts were held during these 3 days as above galleried.
As well as the known artists playing and giving Master Classes, unknown worthy
performers were featured, an important aspect of this symposium. Programs are
galleried with photos from these events.
The Symposium Clarinet Choir, conducted by James Mieller played with a large
participant response with two soloists from the Richmond (Virginia)
Symphony, Ralph Skiano and Brad Davis.
As all the information indicates above, this was one of the most meaningful of
Symposiums presented from this University. Unknown to most of the
participants and friends, Dr Etheridge has been in serious health with Cancer
and now after this Symposium has been undergoing serious treatment with Chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, Dr Etheridge passed away 21 July.
12- 15 June 2010
Clarinetopia at the State University of New York at Stony Brook held 12
- 15 June 2010, Michael Webster and Alan Kay, Directors, with Stanley
Drucker (New York Philharmonic Emeritus), and Laura Flax (Solo
Clarinetist in New York City Opera Orchestra)
Stony Brook, New York USA
In its 2nd year at Stony
Brook University, this intensive artist bound conference was a major coup in its
results and inspirations for all the selected student participants who came,
about 21 in all. Active students were pre-screened by audition, and had
their hands full with critical study. Programs and galleries tell the
story with Master Classes, Faculty and the Finale Student Recital, and Stanley
Drucker participating as faculty with a special recital. As with the first
year, the program was formatted to include sessions in Yoga at a beginning level
by Director Michael Webster of Rice University to embrace the benefits of using
this meditative physical and mental discipline with results showing in the
students. Each morning at 9 am the session began for 3 days, followed by a
Clarinet warm-up session with Alan Kay, and Laura Flax (Solo Clarinetist in the
NY City Opera Orchestra). Reed making with Dr Webster available throughout
the 4 days with blank cane on a Reed Machine.
Master Classes
with Students coached by Faculty Laura Flax, Alan Kay, Michael Webster and
Bryson
Solo and 2nd
Orchestra Clarinet Class with Laura Flax
Master Class coaching by all four
faculty took place each day all day, with sessions on topics such as Orchestral
auditions, Intonation compatibilities with other instruments, namely flute, a
session on the role of the 2nd Clarinet in connection with the Solo Clarinetist
with tips and rules of how and not how to play in that situation. Laura
Flax and her daughter (a clarinetist) demonstrated in a humorous way these rules
and switching places to make their points about the subject. All the
classes placed the students in a critical place with the faculty coaching and
seeing improvement in their playing and especially seeing the results at the
Student Finale Recital. Remarkable is the support the students gave each
other during the sessions. Of interest the humor got high with a session
on Orchestral auditions with Alan Kay, in which the importance of playing
perfect at an audition even under adverse conditions was demonstrated- the
student played standing flat up against the wall the Cappricio Espagnol
(perfectly), then was made to put on a heavy coat, stand back at the wall, with
hood over her head, and played it perfectly again. Another victim student
was made to run around the stage 4-5 times, then lie on his back and play the
Brahms 3rd excerpts. The idea behind this was to prep the student to
handle almost anything so he isn't stressed out and cannot play.
Stanley Drucker
performed a recital and gave a lengthy master class on Orchestral playing with
insightful ideas tailored for each student covering important excerpts, that he
has done in previous conferences this past year. In collaboration with his
coming, Buffet-Crampon displayed instruments for tryout with Chris Coppinger and Wright Music.
On the final day, there was held outside a
talk with Faculty and students in an open forum covering the state of the
performing field, opportunities in developing your own chamber music
organizations with expert input from Alan Kay and Michael Webster from their
experiences, and contacting organizations such as Chamber Music America, which
help those aspiring to move in this direction. Military Band opportunities
and their benefits were also covered. It was highly recommended that those
interested in College teaching pursue their degrees including the Doctorates.
Feelings about the music market were expressed with input from Laura Flax from
how the Orchestral market seems to be eroding the USA, and the challenge that
brings to those desiring jobs there.
Like the first year, the
Clarinetopia was a landmark success. As mentioned so many times, it
is necessary for aspiring clarinetists to be present and involved. The high
school and college years are critical as that audition stage is ever too close
to be aloof about taking on opportunities to learn and be critically critiqued.
This program is specialized, and different from Showcase Festivals featuring
many players, seminars, and 500+ participants. Clarinetists should go to
as many as they can to grow. Credit is certainly due to Michael Webster,
Alan Kay, Stephen Williamson, and Laura Flax, and the great University at Stony
Brook.
May 21st – June 5th, 2010
V INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
for the performance of the Mozart's concertos for FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET,
BASSOON, HORN and Orchestra
Rovereto (TN - Italy)
Associziana Mozart
Italia AUDI Mozart took place these last few weeks featuring the Wind
Instruments Mozart wrote Concertos for, namely, Flute, Clarinet, French
Horn, Oboe, and Bassoon. Complete details regarding the
other instrument competition included on the Competition website, and
the emphasis here is on the Clarinet, won this year by Juilliard
Student
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Revised: August 11, 2010