Hot News June 2006
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27 June 2006
2006 Buffet-Crampon Young Artists Clarinet Competition Finals
New York City USA
The first Major Clarinet Competition by this major Clarinet Maker was held in the distinguished setting
of the Greenfield Recital Hall at this major Conservatory. Forty-eight applicants sent in CD’s to qualify and hope
to engage this competition. Information contained in the galleries above regarding details and Preliminary audition
details indicate the high standards and procedures. The finals of this competition were adjudicated by Stanley Drucker,
Solo Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic and Chairman of the Committee, Mark Nuccio, Associate Solo Clarinetist,
Greg Raden, Solo Clarinetist in the Dallas Symphony, and Michael Webster, Professor at Rice University in Houston,
Texas. This entire Competition project was organized and managed to very high standard by Mitchell Estrin, Creative
and Educational Manager of Buffet-Crampon, and Professor of Clarinet at the University of Florida.
Four outstanding finalists were tasked to perform the following works in their entirety with Piano accompaniment –
Brahms 1st Sonata, Debussy Rhapsodie, Nielsen Clarinet Concerto through the first Cadenza, and the Donald Martino
Set for Solo Clarinet. During the entire session, there was no coaching, just a performance, with the performers rated in
conference after each performed. The pressure on the finalists was very high stress given the stakes here and it was evident.
The four contestants performed to 1st tier standards making it difficult to make final decisions. In the final analysis, the
judges evaluated based on several combinations of factors, including technical fluidity and security, tone, pitch, rhythm,
musical interpretation, creativity, clarity of musical style and concepts, including subtle tonal inflections, sensitivities, and
intangibles. One could not imagine performing for a more critical panel. This factor places this competition to the same
artist standard as the Nielsen and the Munich Competitions. As an irony, it is interesting that a contestant is performing
the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto before a judge who recorded the same work with the New York Philharmonic under Bernstein
in one take.
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Two winners after this grueling round were named: Ashley Ragle from Naples Florida, who won the 1st Prize with a
Gold Medal, a Buffet R13 Clarinet of her choice, and $1000. The 2nd Prize was awarded to Alexey Gorokholinsky from
New York, who received a Silver Medal and $500. The presentations were awarded by Bruce Silva, Vice President of Buffet,
and Francois Kloc, Marketing Manager and Director of Artist Relations in the USA.
Under the proactive engagement of Mr Estrin, this is a landmark event involving the finest Clarinetists in the country.
Last October 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia, a successful Clarinet Choir Festival was held, and the 2nd Clarinet Choir Festival
is scheduled to take place at the Eastman School of Music October 14-15 2006. This array of outstanding events is worthy
of the attention of all players.
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18 June 2006
Claremont Clarinet Festival
Pomona, California USA
The first annual Claremont Clarinet Festival, featuring participants and
coaches at Margaret
Thornhill's Summer Clarinet Workshop, took place on the Pomona College campus, in Claremont,
California. June 11-18, 2006.
Five public concerts included a recital by master teacher Margaret
Thornhill and collaborative pianist,
Twyla Meyer featuring the Guastavino "Sonata," the Finzi "Bagatelles" and the Hindemith Quartet for
violin, clarinet, cello and piano with guest string players Alyssa Park, violinist, and Armen Ksajikian,
cellist. A recital by guest coach David Howard, bass clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic,
demonstrated his proficiency on three different clarinets in a program of the Hindemith "Sonata"
for Bassoon played on bass clarinet; the Lutoslawski "Dance Preludes" and the Poulenc "Sonata"
on B-flat clarinet; and the Mendelssohn Concertpiece #1, for bassett horn, clarinet and piano with
Margaret Thornhill and Twyla Meyer
as assisting artists.
A concert of "New Music for Clarinet Ensembles" included local premieres
of original works by California
composers Edward Cansino and Spencer Dorn; one movement of Steve Reich's "New York Counterpoint";
quartets by Mike Curtis and Gordon Jacob, and "Monochrome 3 for Nine Clarinets" by Peter Schickele.
The concert was performed by workshop participants and conducted by Margaret Thornhill and assistant
conductor Lori Musicant.
Two participant concerts on the weekend were billed as a Clarinet
Marathon, with ten clarinetists performing
blockbusters of the clarinet recital repertoire. Kaili Curry, Johanna Hyun, Joseph Limacher, Wendy Mazon,
Lori Musicant, Nicole Paquing, Victoria Ramos, Gary Robertz, Alex Sramek and Steve White presented works
that had been coached during the workshop. Composers represented were: St. Saens, Osborne, Weber, Debussy,
Rosza, Rota, Arnold, Schumann, Brahms, Mucynzski, Kibbe, Frackenpohl, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Messager
and Poulenc.
Festival participants were in residence at Pomona College for six days,
in morning master classes Margaret
Thornhill and David Howard, afternoon individual coaching with pianist/coach Twyla Meyer, and ensemble
rehearsals. The general take on the workshop was that it was a "blast" with participant sJohanna Hyun declaring
"never a dull moment!" and Steve White writing that he "never thought that I could have so much fun playing
clarinet for a week!"
Next year's Workshop and Festival will take place June 11-18, at Pomona
College, with concerts on June
15, 16, 17 and 18. There will be
space for a maximum of twenty clarinetists, so early inquiries are
advised.
For more information, please visit the website:
www.margaretthornhill.com/SummerClarinetWorkshop.html
These programs were made possible in part through the generosity of
Amateur Chamber Music Players and
the Clinton B. Ford Fund of its ACMP Foundation, an organization that promotes chamber music activities
for amateur musicians.
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17 June 2006
Oklahoma 31st Clarinet Symposium
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma USA
The 31st Annual Symposium was held before an enthusiastic following of players including students, teachers,
and professionals from all over the USA. Faculty as posted on the promotions led a high quality level of performances
from leading players as David Shifrin, Bil Jackson, Stephen Girko, and several College teachers including Connie Rhoades,
Julianne Kirk, Thomas Josenhans, Michelle Kiek, Steven Hanusofski, Walter Grabner (Bass Clarinetist), Amanda
McClandis, Patricia Martin, Mary Alice Druhan, Julia Heinen, and Jared Davis. Major teachers including Russell Dagan,
Donald Montanero, and Stephen Girko, held Master Classes covering important fundamentals with a similarity from past
backgrounds, covering the teachings of the principal concept movers such as the Tabateau approach leading to the playing of
Ralph McLain in Philadelphia as taught by Mr Montanero, Bonade concepts and practices as taught by Mr Dagon based on
the teaching of Robert Marcellus and Stanley Hasty at Eastman, and reinforced teaching reflecting the teaching of Leon
Russianoff (a student of Bonade and close associate of Bassoonist Simon Kovar) with fundamentals which paralleled all 3.
The classes, spanning 1- 2 hours each with selected students, caught attention to the full enrollment.
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Recitals were all high tier, and the repertoire included standard and contemporary music. Every year exhibits from the
industry is present. The Clarinet Choir conducted by James Mieller was well performed. Program information is posted on the
Gallery above. Dr Etheridge is to be highly credited for the success of this effective 3 days.
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8 June 2006
vienna clarinet connection 10th Anniversary Celebration
Vienna, Austria
The Vienna Connection ensemble celebrated its 10th year as a virtuoso group with this performance party at the Sargfabrik
in Vienna. This ensemble has toured throughout Europe and has performed in the USA at the New Orleans ClarinetFest in 2001
to great acclaim. Information about this ensemble and its players stated below.
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A chamber music ensemble that reaches beyond the
narrow confines of traditional stylistic genres.
In the space of only a few years
vienna clarinet
connection
has developed into a renowned chamber
music group that is
increasingly in demand internationally.
“Four individuals and at the same time one single entity of the highest
musical quality” was how
one music critic put it. Immense virtuosity, creativity and joie de vivre are the hallmarks of this young
quartet which
comprises two clarinets, a basset-horn and a bass clarinet.
The group’s original inspiration was the desire for a totally new
chamber music concept.
“It was our wish to combine all the various musical styles we grew up
with and feel emotionally attached
to in one programme.” Multifaceted and perfectionist, the ensembles interpretative influences metamorphose
into original
compositions whilst existing works are influenced anew.
A truly kaleidoscopic repertoire ranges from Bach to Bartok and from
full score to free improvisation -
performances are
characterised by strength and depth of expression, virtuosity and a lot
of good fun.
vienna
clarinet connection
is a musical event of international stature, as witnessed at the
Rheingau Festival,
the Carinthischer Sommer and many other international
musical festivals.
Further a field the group has already toured (Spain, Germany, Turkey,
Poland, Norway, Finland, Sweden,...)
