Hot News April 2005
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30 April 2005
Klezmer Madness Concert with David Krakauer
New York City USA
A sold out double performance of this ensemble held at a notable Theatre Dinner Club ‘Joe’s Pub,
run by Klezmer Master Clarinetist David Krakauer galvanized this audience with this very effective
array of virtuosity, soul, and a hunger from the audience for more. The ensemble consisting of 2
accordianists, 2 giutar players, a drummer, and a a ‘Socalled’ performer using synthesized techniques
and narration, and Krakauer, performed Yiddish music and many of the pieces were from a recently
issued CD recorded live at Krakow Germany, released by Label Bleu, a French label. It is evident
that Mr Krakauer has been a major force in Klezmer Music in the USA and has traveled to source
areas dealing with this music. This ensemble is one to be reckoned with in its uniqeness and power
of music expression. This group is very active in New York.
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25 April 2005
Fabrizio Meloni Master Class at the Manhattan School of Music
New York City, USA
A special Orchestral Clarinet master Class convened at this leading Conservatory in the
United States. This event was hosted by the celebrated Associate Solo Clarinetist / Eb Clarinet
in the New York Philharmonic Mark Nuccio who arranged this entire event, of which Meloni’s
appearance was sponsored by Buffet-Crampon. Program is posted above in which standard
audition works were showcased such as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto K 622 played by Heather
Thon, the Orchestral works were played by Roman Fukshansky and Pascal Archer, all advanced
students of Mr Nuccio. This class, over 2 ½ hours, was intense without letup applied by Mr Meloni
who vigorously outpaced the students in getting the most out of them artistically, technically, emphasizing
advanced concepts and played demonstrating how to perfect the passages. It was a wonder that the
students did not crack under the pressure of the coaching. All the students were well prepared and
capable to perform a credible Orchestral audition, and were conceptually even more ready after this
afternoon of hard coaching. Many major players and dignitaries made special appearance including
Jon Manasse, noted soloist and faculty at the Eastman School of Music, and Francois Kloc from
Buffet-Crampon, sponsor for this afternoon. This was a class of very high importance for any serious
player who wants to witness clarinet perfection given by world-class artists. The event was free admission.
Information about Mr Meloni below.
Fabrizio Meloni has been the first clarinetist in the theatre of La Scala of the Milan Philharmonic
Orchestra since 1984. He obtained his diploma, highly commended and with honorable mention, from the
Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi in Milan.
Meloni has performed in various national and international competitions, including "Pragues Spring"
3rd prize and 3rd prize in the Munich competition. He played as soloist in several orchestras: Orchestra
Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, Pomeriggi Musicali, Stradivari, Internazionale, Tokyo Orchestra. He has
collaborated with Canino, Lonquich, Campanella, H. Schiff, Gulda, Gruberova, Hagen Quartet and
Myung-Whun Chung.
He has recorded Mozarts Symphonie Concertante by Nuova Era; the quintets of Mozart and
Brahms for clarinet and strings with the Italian Quintet by Fonit Cetra; a CD dedicated to Schubert,
Schumann and Mendelssohn with F. Manara and the strings trio of La Scala, for Thymallus; and
another CD dedicated to Beethoven.
Meloni recently recorded Mozarts concerto K 622 for clarinet and orchestra in collaboration
with the Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala, conducted by Riccardo Muti.
Meloni teaches in several academies - Lonato, DAMUS de Montegiorgio in Monterubiano,
Perugia, Castelfranco Veneto - and was invited by the Conservatoires Nationaux Suprieurs of Paris
and Lyon for a series of concerts and master classes.
For more information, please contact Francois Kloc at francois.kloc@buffet-crampon.com
or by calling 1-800-426-7068.
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23 April 2005
Eastern Kentucky University Clarinet Festival
Richmond, Kentucky USA
The annual Festival held on this campus had within this day 3 acclaimed University Clarinet
professionals from major schools around the country. The professors Connie Rhoades of this School
of Music, Karen Dannessa, newly appointed Professor of Clarinet at Westchester University in
Pennsylvania, and Buffet artist and Professor at Michigan State University Caroline Hartig, a
renowned International soloist. The students attending covered every level from beginning
student at the Junior High School level, High School students, and College students. Of interest
was the teaching emphasis on basic fundamentals of playing applied to all the students and seeing
how stresses on correct techniques including breath support, embouchure, rhythm and methodically
drilling these concepts in the students’ minds. Too often students do not cover these basics early
and later have to be painfully re-taught how to play the clarinet and go backwards to catch up on
what they learned wrong. Hopefully the message got through and a hard re-thinking of how to
practice, and approach the right way is accomplished. The 3 teachers covered these aspects upon
all the students. For a young child player to get the message from a accomplished performer/teacher
from a major school should be inspirational and beneficial. Two Clarinet Choirs prepared and
performed the last concert under Connie Rhoades (High School) and Krystal Merz (Junior High School).
Three recitals with the featured faculty performed throughout the day including Connie Rhoades
performing works of Finzi (5 Bagatelles, Perifoy arrangement of Wondrous Love, Poulenc (Sonata),
and C.M. von Weber (Duo Concertante Op 48);
Karen Dannessa performing: Leo Weiner (Peregi Verbunk), Busoni (Suite K. 88) , JS Bach
(arranged by Stanley hasty (Chromatic Fantasy), and Martinu (Sonatine)
Caroline Hartig performed Charles Marie Widor (Introduction et Rondo Op 72), Jules Mazellier
Fantasy-Ballet), Gaetano Labanchi (Fantasia on Motives from Verdi’s Opera Aida), Ernest Chaisson
(Andante et Allegro), Germaine Taileferre (Arabesque), and Luigi Bassi ( Divertimento on Operatic
motives from La Favorita). Carlone Hartig was sponsored by Buffet-Crampon.
The entire day went with musical enrichment from all sides with the teaching concepts and
performance role examples well performed to the credit of all who participated. With events like
this being held at several campuses, it should be an opportunity not to be missed by any clarinetist
who is serious about his/her training.
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17 April 2005
Ohio University Clarinet Gala 2005
Athens, Ohio USA
A major success Gala convened at this major campus with a diverse faculty of Professors from
Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Washington, and included comprehensive coverage of fundamentals of
Clarinet playing concentrating on the fine points of performance. Noteworthy was the 2 hour master
class with 6 students under world-class teacher/performer Eli Eban, former Solo Clarinetist in the
Israel Philharmonic and Professor at Indiana University. Each student who played in the class was
thoroughly made versed in how to produce the tone needed to play with ease, including subtle
changes in embouchure, diaphram and support, and means to achieve those objectives. Complete
analysis of each of their issues was carefully explained.
A class in Extended Clarinet Techniques was fully covered in the discussion by Kim Cole Luevano,
with a handout of the sources of how to learn the craft including resources from names in that field
including Bruno Bartolozzi, Ronald Caravan, Phillip Rehfeldt, Elsa Ludwig-Verdehr, and others.
Demonstration was provided on areas such as multiphonics, flutter tonguing, resonance tonal variations,
and many other areas. One emphasis of this class was to insure that these techniques are not too difficult
to grasp and each player should explore and learn to serve and enhance their playing as these extended
techniques are now part of a performer’s life in performance and teaching.
Professor Rischen gave a master class covering more fundamentals and covering important aspects
of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with recommended editions. Of interest to students was an examination
of a Wurlitzer Basset A Clarinet Reform Boehm system which has the capability of playing the work in its
original intent with the low extra range, also used in the Clarinet Quintet k 581.
A Potpourri faculty recital was performed by Anthony Costa, Bass Clarinetist, of the Dayton Symphony,
Ann-Marie Bingham from Marshall University in West Virginia, Barbara Specht from Heidelberg College,
Anthony Taylor from the Spokane Symphony, and Kimberly Cole-Luevano from Eastern Michigan University.
The Finale was Eli Eban who performed a showcase recital of standard literature including Brahms 2nd Sonata,
3 Songs without Words by Paul Ben-Haim, Darius Milhaud’s Duo Concertante, 4 Church Sonatas by
W. A. Mozart arranged by Yona Ettlinger, another great Clarinetist from Israel.
This Clarinet Gala, an annual event well planned and well attended is an opportunity not to be missed by
any serious player who wants to learn several perspectives for growth and making of friends through this
association. Professor Rischen is to be highly credited with its success.
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18-20 April 2005
Stanley Drucker Master Class Residency at Vienna Conservatory – Roger Salander
Vienna, Austria
Stanley Drucker, Solo Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic, in conjunction with the Vienna
Conservatory of Music under Clarinet Professor and former student Roger Salander, presented a major
series of master classes for three days at the Conservatory and students from other schools came as well.
There were participants from Austria, Korea, Taiwan, Poland, Hungary, Mexico, the United States and
Macedonia, quite a mix, a very international representation here. Students were allowed the to select
their repertoire and no orchestral repertoire was presented. What was heard included Nielsen, Debussy,
Francaix, Stockhausen, Weber, Finzi, Copland, Schumann and Messager. What was an eye-opener for
the students (though exactly what I suspected, having been Stanley's very first pupil at the age of 17
and knowing him for a lifetime), was that the consummate technician (of all time) spoke almost exclusively
about line, musicality, sound and style. He complimented those with especially good techniques but never
dwelt on this. He was always more impressed with a good
sound and a musical personality.
To add a personal comment,
Stanley taught me about perfection when I was 17, something I sorely
needed at the time. However, even then, it was always the music that he considered most important.
I have carried this philosophy throughout my life as a clarinetist. It was first brought home to me by
Augustin Duques, my teacher at Juilliard, and then repeated with intensity by Alfred Prinz, my mentor
here in Vienna. Stanley has never wavered in his pursuit of musical values. Yes, an excellent technique
is an absolute necessity for a career as a musician (and that does include clarinetists), but that's only
the very beginning. Artistry can only begin when technique is no longer a factor. This is what I try to
give my students and it was great to have Stanley here and hear him tell him that very thing.
(from left to right): Jean-François Bescond, Jonathan Shames, Sandra Mosteller, James Campbell,
David Shea, David Etheridge, Anne Thurmond, and John Cipolla
9 April 2005
4th Annual Texas Tech University Clarinet Festival
Lubbock, Texas, USA
by Rahni Kennedy
The Fourth Annual Texas Tech Clarinet Festival was held on April 8-9 in the
School of Music Building on
the campus of Texas Tech University. This event was hosted by Dr. David Shea, Associate Professor of
Clarinet, and featured several clinicians and leading clarinet artists from around the country. Fifty
clarinetists from the region took part in a day of
recitals, master classes and clinics.
The festival began on Friday evening with a master class given by recording
artist and Indiana University
Professor of Clarinet, James Campbell. Mr. Campbell worked with five Texas Tech clarinet students giving
valuable tips on how to improve their playing and knowledge. Some of the more insightful tips included knowing
the difference between studying and practicing music. Studying means you become the teacher and practice
should consist of “smart repetition.” He also emphasized a couple of old adages, doing what is written in the
music and taking notes when you go to any master class or clinic. This master class was truly beneficial to
all in attendance.
Saturday’s festivities included a master class and a wide array of recitals and
clinics for all levels of playing.
Host David Shea began the day with a recital, which included a performance of Malcolm Arnold’s Sonatina and
concluded with Leo Weiner’s Peregi Verbunk, The pieces were performed with great expression and virtuosity.
Next, Shea welcomed clarinetist David Etheridge and pianist Jonathan Shames, both from the University of
Oklahoma, to conclude the opening recital. Etheridge and Shames were very dynamic in their powerful
performances of the Brahms Clarinet Sonata in Eb Major Sonata and Francis Poulenc Sonata. Etheridge
also presented a work for clarinet and tape, titled Alt.music.ballstix, by Nikola Resanovic. This piece is
characterized by the clarinetist interacting with a multitude of sounds including a facsimile machine, phone
tones, and Eastern European dance music. This performance delighted the audience in its novelty and
engaging performance.
Following the early morning recitals, Dr. Etheridge gave a master class with two
participants from Texas Tech.
He gave insightful advice to the students about reed adjustment to compensate for the manufacturer’s faults
and finding the correct stroke for tonguing. Even some of the other guest artists were taking notes. Etheridge
also gave useful tips on playing fundamentals as he helped the TTU students improve their performances of
their selected pieces.
The morning was concluded with a recital by Western Kentucky University Clarinet
Professor of Clarinet and
Saxophone, Dr. John Cipolla. Cipolla began with Jean Françaix’s Thema con variazioni. All of the intricacies and
challenges were handled with great facility and a beautiful sound. The program concluded with a performance
of Meyer Kupferman’s Moonflowers, Baby! as Cipolla was joined by TTU Faculty, Alan Shinn on percussion.
Together, the two showed their great skills in the jazz
idiom as they gave a masterful performance of this work.
The second half of the day started with a presentation from Jean-François
Bescond of Conn-Selmer, Inc.
Mr. Bescond showed a video on the manufacturing of the new Selmer line of clarinets and how they differ
from the current popular brands. He also brought this line of instruments for the participants to test and
give feedback on. Next, John Cipolla gave a fascinating clinic on beginning improvisation. He laid out the
grass root principles needed to start improvisation with only a small clarinet combo. These included playing
the root note on chord changes, a “mindful” repeat of the melody line, a bass line, and the presence for each
player to switch off between these. By the end of the session, Dr. Cipolla had two Texas Tech students doing
improvisation as if they had been doing it for years.
The afternoon recitals began with Dr. Anne Thurmond of Tennessee Tech
University. Thurmond presented a
recital which began with an elegant and refined performance of the first movement of Franz Krommer’s
Concerto in Eb Major. The next work was an unaccompanied solo by Michael Kibbe, Sonata, Op. 8. This was
a new piece for most in the audience, and Thurmond gave a very effective and commanding performance of the work.
She concluded her program with an inspiring rendition of
Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 73.
This brought the festival to the final recital of the day given by James
Campbell. He started with a set of
pieces by Debussy, which included a beautiful and intimate performance of the Première Arabesque and
Petite Pièce, Next, the audience was treated with Brian Newbould’s Fantasy Sonata after Franz Schubert,
which is based on material from Shepherd on the Rock. This was only the second performance of this work.
He ended the program with another set of pieces by American composers. The set included the Bernstein
Sonata, a transcription of Copland’s song, At The River, and the calypso-style inspired third movement from
David Baker’s Sonata. Certainly, Mr. Campbell showed the audience his great sense of musicianship and
technique in his playing that has made him the world
class artist that he is.
Throughout the day, beginning and intermediate students had the opportunity to
attend two clinics on clarinet
fundamentals. These were given by Dr. Sandra Mosteller of Wayland Baptist University and were titled
“Tone Building and Tonguing” and “Technique and Practice Tips.” Students received valuable information
on how to continue developing their playing in a correct
and beneficial manner.
The day ended with a clarinet choir concert. First, the TTU Clarinet Choir
performed an arrangement of
Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor with a brilliance that delighted the audience. The middle and high
school participants joined the choir on stage to form the TTU Festival Clarinet Choir, which performed
several short selections before ending with the
festival’s traditional finale piece The Stars and Stripes Forever.
The TTU Clarinet Studio would like to thank several sponsors for supplying
grants that made this year’s
festival possible: J D’Addario and Rico Reeds, Selmer, Tarpley Music and the Texas Music Educator’s
Association. Also, special thanks to Joshua Kurzweil of McKinney North High School rehearsing the
middle and high school students for the clarinet choir concert, Jason Sifford and Regina Shea for the
piano collaboration. A final thanks to all participants and the TTU Clarinet Studio looks forward to
bringing another successful festival to West Texas next year.
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9 April 2005
New Jersey Clarinet Symposium
Eastern Conservatory – Oldwick New Jersey USA
The 2nd Symposium held in this small town 40 miles from New York City had this very effective
event involving many of the major professionals around New York, including Mark Nuccio, the featured
artist, Associate Solo / Eb Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic, Larry Guy, Solo Clarinet in the
Long Island Symphony and faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and Vasser College, David Hattner,
Solo Clarinet in the Princeton New Jersey Symphony, Guy Chadash, maker of his special brand of Clarinets
and authority on Clarinet acoustics, Ben Redwine, Eb Clarinetist in the US Naval Academy Band and soloist
in Jazz and Classic. He is head of the mouthpiece firm Redwine Jazz and produces the Gennusa Clarinet
Mouthpiece. Special attention was focused on sound concepts of playing, well laid out by Larry Guy on a
talk with recorded examples of the totality of Daniel Bonade, considered the Dean of American Clarinet
Playing. Many of the most important Orchestral players studied and carried his concepts to the next
generations, including Robert Marcellus (Cleveland Orchestra), Bernard Portnoy, Harold Wright
(Boston Symphony), Leon Russianoff in New York, and a long list of other notables. Orchestral
examples were played to demonstrate his concepts on tone, phrasing, technical connections, rhythm,
and more. It is hoped that further study be paid to Bonade’s contribution. Several books are available
to grasp these ideals, written by Mr Guy, and a major book written as a Doctoral thesis by Carol Kycia,
available through her directly.
David Hattner from the Princeton Symphony gave a master class with students pointing to integration
of tone, phrasing, technique and expressiveness as the focus. Students played solo literature and were
intensively paced to achieve the ends asked for. Demonstrations were constant to point at the goals.
Ben Redwine presented a class on basic jazz concepts and encouraged the clarinetists present to actively
participate in the ideas. Recording samples of each of the developmental eras of jazz was played to
acquaint everyone how these events evolved. Guy Chadash, maker of Clarinets in New York,
gave a master class involving acoustics and its principles regarding the player and his instrument and
how to make connections to further performance goals. David Gould, Vandoren Reeds / Mouthpieces
representative, gave an informative slideshow presentation about the total production of reeds from planting,
harvesting, processing, quality control, and with mouthpieces a similar production analysis. Chris Coppinger,
USA Northeast Director Manager for Buffet-Crampon, sponsor for this event, gave a talk about the current
state of business with the company, pointing out the trends in the music industry where major companies are
being sought out by money-mongering investors, thus endangering the health and quality interests of the company.
The high point was an Orchestra audition master class with Mark Nuccio, who extensively coached very
advanced students and professionals on the fine points covering basic and advanced repertoire, including
Brahms Symphonies, Kodaly Dances of Galanta, Shostakovich Symphony #7, on Eb Clarinet, and other works.
This class was nothing less than incedible and points to Mr Nuccio’s status as a major symphony player.
He succeeds Peter Simenauer, who retired 3 years ago from the Philharmonic, long regarded as one of the finest
Eb Clarinetists to play in New York.
The Bonade Clarinet Quartet performed with Nuccio playing and included Eb playing, Mr Nuccio played
an informal recital of various works.
This all day program, well planned and carried out by the Eastern Conservatory located at Zion Lutheran
Church in Oldwick, is in its 2nd year headed by Clarinetist and North Branch Records Recording Producer Mark
Sloth, and is a almost unknown event. Attendance was very high, attracting students and teachers / professionals
from the entire state and New York. This symposium is not to be missed. The entire day was made possible by
Buffet and Vandoren. The day was free admission for all.
Milan, Italy
Karl Leister, Laura and Luigi Magistrelli in the courtyard of the Milan Conservatory and Master Class
Luigi Magistrelli, clarinet teacher at the Conservatory of Milan, organized
for the third time some Master classes with Prof. Karl Leister. The theme was
“Classical and romantic German repertoire for clarinet”. There were also
chamber groups with clarinet and strings( Mozart Quintet K 581) , piano
and winds (Mozart K 452) and Trio for piano, clarinet and cello (Beethoven Op 11).
Leister remarked often how clarinet playing should be conceived in a noble way,
thinking the sixteenth notes like melodies and not only as technical passages.
He also showed on his clarinet how to shape the phrases, and this was quite
important for the young and more advanced students.
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3 April 2005
Selmer Clarinet Day- Steinway Hall, New York City USA
A stellar day of Clarinet performances, master classes, a panel discussion, and a Clarinet
Recital with the great players in New York, including the Clarinet Section of the Metropolitan
Opera Orchestra, David Krakauer, noted Klezmer performer, Ricardo Morales, former Solo
Clarinet at the Met and now Solo Clarinetist in the Philadelphia Orchestra, Todd Levy, and
many others including students, and established professionals. Selmer presented a Panel with
the faculty to discuss the instruments of their choice and why they choose these instruments
over other options. Jerome Selmer, Directeur General at Selmer Paris, gave a discussion on
the model differences and their purposes based on the performance needs of the players.
The participants actively took part in discussions with both Selmer and the faculty.
Exhibits of all the Selmer Clarinets were available for tryouts with representatives ready to
assist with questions. Many major figures on the New York musical scene were present including
Stanley Drucker of the New York Philharmonic, and many others who teach at Colleges and
Universities within 100 miles of the city. Two programs were performed as posted on the
photo gallery above this article. Jean-Francois Bescond, US Selmer Representative was
responsible for this momentous success and this Clarinet Day is the third within a year, one in
Annapolis Maryland and Greenville Delaware.