A very special interview was held with legendary USAF Band Commander retired Colonel Arnald Gabriel, where during this session the full house crowd of Band Directors heard about his illustrious career, including his wartime past in World War II where he was decorated as a war hero, a fact many knew nothing about.  Of special interest as his music career developed after the war, Gabriel is credited with having built up to the world-class level the USAF Band he commanded for 21 years.  Many in the Band field consider him a hero, and he explained some of the very important recipes for success of a Band program, the most important of which is to reach out and get people outside the Band involved, as a guest, promoter, soloist, including people of influence in the community.  This suggests political interaction to get the mission done, but in fact that is important strategy to make a program strong.  Of special interest to Clarinetists, after the seminar was over and we spoke, we talked about the Klar/Fest program started in 1981 and 82, of which I was Director, and how the USAF Band was a major part of the success of the Festivals.  Stanley Drucker, Solo Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic, and wife Naomi, along with Ignatious Gennusa from the Baltimore Symphony, Allen Sigel from the Buffalo Philharmonic, Michelle Zukovsky from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Eddie Daniels, Jazz great, and Loren Kitt from the National Symphony in Washington, were all involved as soloists under Colonel Gabriel's conducting the USAF Band in 81, and the USAF Orchestra in 82.    This is all a tribute to his outreach to advance the performance field and bring inspiration to everyone in contact with him.  After the Klar/Fest 81 festival finished, the 4 soloists with the Band (Druckers, Sigel, and Gennusa) performed gratis with the Band the next day at their weekly Jefferson Memorial Summer Concert, which further gives tribute to this great man. 

Dr Janice Minor	Introduction of Class	Demonstration on teaching Clarinet to beginner

 

       There were two important Clarinet seminars given, one by Professor Charles West from Virginia Commonwealth University, in which he spoke about tone production and position, air speed and control, and many other fundamental points of importance. Demonstration was constant and questions were encouraged and addressed.  Above gallery photos outline the content of this session.     Dr Janice Minor, Professor at James Madison University in Harrisionburg gave a seminar : Clarinet 1,2,3, - Clarinet 101 making emphasis on fundamental teaching of beginners and advancing students through a Band Program.  Working with teachers from the audience demonstrated what had to be covered.   Both sessions were packed with over 300 people each and well presented.

Dallas Wind Symphony	Symphony with John Corigliano	Dallas conductor introducing Corigliano	Musashino Academica Wind Ensemble	Weber Solo Clarinet Section

Oregon Symphonic Band	Central Michigan University Chamber Winds- Mozart Gran Partita	Monterey Jazz Festival	McCadden Middle School Band	Downbeat Jazz

         As every year, selected Bands and Orchestras are invited to perform, and special recognition goes to groups with remarkable performance.   The Musashino Academica Wind Ensemble from Japan performed to professional standard for a College ensemble, with the majority of the players, including the entire Clarinet section being women.  One special treat was performance of the Rondo of the Weber Clarinet Quintet Op 34 with the Clarinet section in unison and memorized.  Performance took the audience by surprise and stunned most of the 3000 students in the hall.     The Dallas Wind Symphony gave 2 concert sets, to professional standard, with one concert dedicated to the performance of a recent Band work named Circus Maxima by John Corigliano, who was present and explained the work and its design.  Performance was at the incredible edge and surely was a work many directors want to perform in their programs. As can be well noted, the Service Bands gave stunning performances, and each year a different Band appears as a main feature.  These groups are the role models for young aspiring players and Directors alike.    Not to forget Mozart's 250th Birth Anniversary, the Central Michigan University Chamber Winds performing the Grand Partita K 361.    

      As mentioned many times before, this is a mecca festival not to be missed.  One meets friends from years back and the great pros to aspire to.  The next Festival is posted on their site for December 2007.

 

 

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Revised: October 13, 2007