February 2017 Hot News

Senior VIP David Shifrin, Renowned Soloist and former Director of Chamber Music Northwest, and Professor at Yale University, Soloist performing Weber's Clarinet Concertino and Rossini's Introduction, Theme & Variations with the Vancouver (Washington) Symphony -

Oscars-Schmoscars - Large audience hears clarinetist Shifrin with the Vancouver Symphony

                   You’d think that competing in the same time slot as the annual Oscars ceremony would have severely diminished the attendance at Vancouver Symphony’s concert on Sunday night (February 26), but Skyview Concert Hall was fairly full with a large crowd. The strong turnout must have been due in part to the featured soloist, clarinetist David Shifrin, who is well-known for his work at Chamber Music Northwest, both as a performer and as its artistic director for the past 36 years. He didn’t disappoint the listeners, deftly playing the “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra” by Carl Maria von Weber and Gioachino Rossini’s “Introduction, Theme, and Varations.” The orchestra, led by music director Salvador Brotons, rounded out the program with solid performances of works by Christoph Willibald Gluck and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

                For the Weber and Rossini pieces, Shifrin brought out the cantabile style, make the melodic lines sing. His expressive artistry accented sharp contrasts in dynamics, easily diving into the softest pianissimos and ascending to bold fortes that were never too harsh. He executed wonderful tempo shifts – sometimes in mid phrase – and occasionally he would turn slightly from side to side so that everyone in the hall could hear him.

              The operatic moments of each piece also include some mind boggling runs that went up and down very quickly. The Rossini piece offered the flashiest of these with a series that involved popping a high note in the midst of a run that was in the lower range. Using terrific breath control, Shifrin played all of the pianistic passages with gusto, crouching and almost bouncing lightly in a way that was fun to watch.

             The orchestra accompanied Shifrin with great sensitivity. It was easy to hear every phrase and nuance from his clarinet. In much the same way, the orchestra also gave a fine performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. The combinations of light and airy sections contrasted very well against the turbulent and darker parts of the piece. The violins nicely tip-toed their way through the delicate areas of the second movement, including passages that featured a distant echo. There were some muffled notes in the French horns and a stray note here and there from other sections, but overall, the orchestra gave a satisfying performance.

            The concert began with the Overture to Gluck’s “Iphigénie en Aulide,” which warmed up the audience with stately melodic lines that suggested slowly turning ocean waves mixed in with a little pomp. The orchestra excelled at creating the darker moods of the piece as well.

           Brotons conducted the Gluck and Mozart from memory. His baton work and gestures showed expert command of the music and allowed him to engage the musicians freely. It’s an impressive thing to behold.

VIP Stephanie Zelnick Soloist performing Gerald Finzi Five Bagatelles for Clarinet with the Longmont Symphony

VIP Charles Neidich Master Class and Seminar - BEYOND THE CLARINET, at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, VIP Alan R Kay, Host
a multi-faceted clarinet master class with international renowned virtuoso, composer and conductor Charles Neidich

Internationally renowned clarinetist Charles Neidich brought to our Graduate Department’s clarinet and wind students his considerable gifts as one of the finest clarinetists and musical thinkers in the world today. Though the class was organized in a master class format, Mr. Neidich applied not only his extreme knowledge of the instrument and his exceptional teaching, but a highly educational and historical context to repertoire presented as well as a scholarly approach to music making for clarinetists. This will no doubt was a fascinating and inspiring class for wind players and for all musicians and audience alike.

Principal Clarinet, Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas
Professor of Clarinet, Academia de Orquestra Filharmonica de Gran Canaria
Artistic Director, Agaete Clarinet Festival
Artistic Director, VIMM Clarinet Festival in Virovitica, Croatia

VIP Alcides Rodriguez (Bass Clarinetist in the Atlanta Symphony) Master Class at Columbus State University - Dr Lisa Oberlander, Host -

VIP Jonathan Cohler Master Class Tour at Four Universities in Ohio with VIP Professors presiding

Had a fabulous time touring Ohio performing and teaching at Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, University of Akron, and Ohio University. Thanks to Caroline Hartig, Kevin Schempf, Kristina Jones, and Rebecca Rischin, and all their wonderful students for a great time!

On Saturday, February 11, 2017, the 20th annual Midwest ClariFest was hosted at University of Nebraska-Lincoln by Dr. Diane Barger, with over 70 registered participants. This year’s guest artist was Dr. Stephanie Zelnick, Associate Professor of Clarinet at University of Kansas and principal clarinetist of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. The day was packed full of recitals, presentations, and masterclasses. Zelnick kicked off ClariFest 2017 with a wonderful opening program including the works of Shulman, Finzi, Brahms, and Kovacs. Following the opening recital was a morning masterclass featuring performers of secondary school-aged students and undergraduate Laura Guenther, a senior Music Education major at Wayne State University. When asked about her masterclass experience, Laura said “I was very comfortable playing in front of Dr. Zelnick. She knew how to relate to students using fun references, such as Darth Vader as a breathing example.” Dr. Zelnick left these students with a new perspective and deeper understanding of their pieces.

After the morning sessions, participants enjoyed fellowship during the luncheon and visited the exhibit area, which featured D’Addario, Lisa’s Clarinet Shop, Robert Dickason Repair, and Judi’s Woodwind Shop. The afternoon sessions began with an informative presentation by Dr. Larkin Sanders, a D’Addario Method Artist, about the creation of Reserve mouthpieces, the process of turning raw cane into reeds, and the differences between the many wonderful products sold by D’Addario. Lisa Canning, of Lisa’s Clarinet Shop, then gave an in-depth presentation on “How to think about clarinet selection to develop your voicing, concept of sound production, and ultimately your unique musical voice.” Owning her own clarinet shop for over 34 years, Mrs. Canning has an undeniable love and talent for helping clarinetists achieve their musical goals.

Zelnick started the second master class of the day with explaining the basics of klezmer clarinet playing as was featured in her morning recital. Cayla Cuba, a senior Music Education major at University of Nebraska-Kearney and masterclass participant, “was very excited to be a part of a day that was just about clarinets. It was a lot of fun to learn from someone I'd never met before, and to get a different view on playing the clarinet. I also loved getting more experience with playing in front of peers, most of whom I'd also never met before!”

A potpourri recital was staged for the final event of Midwest ClariFest featuring performers Lisa Canning, Cayla Cuba, Elizabeth Johnson, Elisabeth Stimpert, Gene Williams, Pance Zaev, Ed Love, and Larkin Sanders. The UNL Clarinet Studio concluded the program with Tod Kerstetter’s delightful arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody for clarinet choir.

Of her experience as guest artist, Zelnick stated that “it was a pleasure to perform and teach at Midwest ClariFest. Dr. Barger hosts such an amazing event and I was so happy to work with so many great clarinetist and vendors! My thanks go to Buffet Crampon, Dr. Barger, and University of Nebraska for their generous support.”

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln clarinet studio is excited to announce the guest artist for Midwest ClariFest 2018, Dr. Jesse Krebs, Associate Professor of Clarinet at Truman State University, tentatively scheduled for April 7, 2018.. Please join us for a clarinet-filled day of learning, playing, and inspiration!

Vinetertoner Kammermusik Festival - with VIP Charles Neidich, guest artist

Master Classes and Performance of Leshnoff Clarinet Concerto with VIP Ricardo Morales with the Frost Wind Ensemble at The University of Miami