Click on WKA Logo to return to Home Page

 

May 2008 Hot News

 

                                               Introductions with Former Students anf Friends

                                             Clarinet Duo Performance with the Druckers

            Clarinet Ensemble Reading of Irwin Schwack Clarinet Quartet with 50 Clarinetists

                                                   Naomi Drucker Display of her Career

25 May 2008

60th Anniversary Reunion honoring Naomi Drucker, Professor at Hofstra University and Co-Director of the American Chamber Ensemble,  with former Students

Massapequa, New York USA

          A momentous gathering of former and present students spanning almost 60 years converged on this Elk's Club with the Ballroom named for her father Monroe Lewis, celebrating an accomplishment of teaching of the Clarinet.   The event was attended by over 100 past students and friends out to honor her accolaides as teacher and noted performer.  As stated in her remarks, the calling to teach and make a difference for students was a major purpose and it has affected so many who have studied with her and made tributes as a teacher and a friend who made life more meaningful. During this afternoon, she and her husband Stanley Drucker, Solo Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic,  performed two Duets, by Mozart, and Meyer Kupferman's Double Features for 2 Clarinets.  It is clear that both as a team as performing inspired everyone who came as supreme role models to make everyone want to achieve beyond their own levels of playing.  After the Drucker Duo performance, participants pulled out their Clarinets to perform a work for 4 Clarinets by Irwin Schwack, all 50 of them.   A feast followed and a special Cake was cut offered by Buffet-Crampon with Chris Coppinger. US Northeast Manager.  Archival displays spanning Naomi's career were presented for the students to see, along with CD's of the American Chamber Ensemble featuring the music of American and Long Island composers. 


Naomi Drucker, clarinetist, co-director of the American Chamber Ensemble, has performed, recorded and toured with the New York Philharmonic. She has performed in Japan, Great Britain, Russia, Sweden, France, Canada and Argentina, and has appeared as soloist with the Nassau Symphony Orchestra, New York Virtuosi, Philharmonia Virtuosi, Massapequa Symphony, Long Island Baroque Ensemble. Long Island Symphony and West Islip Orchestra.

She has given performances at the International Clarinet Convention in Paris, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Washington , DC. With her husband Stanley Drucker, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, she has performed on a tour of eleven cities in Japan, at the East Meets West Music Festival in Sweden, in 1996 at the International Clarinet Congress in Paris, in Singapore, at the Music Conservatorium in Sydney, Australia and at the Mykonos International Chamber Music Festival. Principal clarinetist of the New York Virtuosi, she began her career at age 21 as principal clarinetist of the North Carolina Symphony. A graduate of Hofstra University and an Adjunct Professor of Music at her alma mater, she received the 1994 George M. Estabrook Distinguished Alumni Award for career achievement. With the American Chamber Ensemble, she has recorded music of Zaimont, Hindemith and Weigl and has performed on New York Legends - Stanley Drucker for Cala Records and Naomi Drucker and Stanley Drucker Play Meyer Kupferman for Soundspells Records. A 1998 release, Music for Doubles, on Elysium Records, features Naomi and Stanley Drucker performing the Krommer Concerto, Op. 35, for Two Clarinets and Orchestra, Peter Tiboris conducting. Ms. Drucker enjoys a busy teaching schedule and is a strong supporter of her many friends who are Long Island composers.

 

19 - 20 May 2008

Cristo Barrios performs with the Arditti String Quartet. in the World premiere of Blai Soler's "Clarinet Quintet"  and performs in the Olivier Messiean Anniversary Festival

Lisbon Portugal

Arditti String Quartet. World premiere

             V Cajacanarias Contemporary Music Festival. Cristo Barrios performed with the Arditti String Quartet. They made the World premiere of "Clarinet Quintet" by Blai Soler at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus (Gran Canaria-Spain), as well as string quartets by Carter, Dusapin and Lachenmann. They also played the same programme at the Auditorio de CajaCanarias (Tenerife). Great audience acclaims in both concerts.

 Concert tour in Portugal

         Oliver Messiaen anniversary. Concerts took place at the Esposende main auditorium, at the Salao Medieval da Universidade do Minho (Braga) and at the Palacio Foz (Lisboa). The repertoire included pieces by Messiaen (Quartet for the End of Time) and Stravinsky (The Soldiers Tale). Cristo played with the Medina Ensemble (Nuno Soares, violin; David Cruz, cello y Youri Popov, piano). Big success at the three concerts, specially in Lisboa. Cristo will make another tour in Portugal with this Ensemble next November 2008.

 

11 May 2008

World Premiere of Newly discovered Clarinet Concerto by Henri Joseph De Croes (1790) (Brussels 1785- Regensburg 1842) performed by Vlad Weverbergh  with the Orchestra Collegium Instrumentale Brugense, Ivan Meylemans conductor

Brugense, Belgium

       A major Premiere of a newly discovered and reconstructed early Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra Henri Joseph De Croes (1790) (Brussels 1785- Regensburg 1842) performed by Vlad Weverberg  with the Orchestra Collegium Instrumentale Brugense, Ivan Meylemans conductor took place in Belgium.  Information about the work is forthcoming; Soloist Vlad Weverbergh, a prominent Clarinetist in Belgium and a student of Walter Boeykins performed to high standard.  The concert was broadcast and recording will be released at a later time.  Information about Mr Weverbergh below.

Newly discovered clarinet concerto - 1790.

Vlad Weverberg and Collegium Instrumentale Brugense under the direction of Ivan Meylemans performed this work in Izegem (Belgium) on 11 May 2008.

Henri Jacques De Croes (Antwerp 1705 – 1786), the father of Henri Jacques, was chapel master (Chapelle Royale) for Charles de Lorraine in Brussels.  He had very good connections with the nobel house Furst Türn and Taxis (European Postal Services) who accepted De Croes’ son, Henri Joseph De Croes (Brussels 1758 – Regensburg 1842) as violinist, later chapel master or music director at the court of Türn und Taxis in Regensburg. http://www.thurnundtaxis.de/

 Henri Joseph De Croes has composed divertimenti, two symphonies, an opera and various pieces for special occasions.

His clarinet concerto of 1790 is his most important work.

 His work is in typical style for the era: light, fitting the “leisure class” and atmosphere in the European courts at that time.  He wrote the clarinet concerto around the same time when Mozart wrote his concerto. It is 23 minutes long and contains 3 parts: Allegro, Romance Andante and Rondeau Allegro.

 The conductor score was not available and the reconstruction of his clarinet concerto was based on loose score sheets. The 21 bars of rest in the last movement for the solo player are fairly unusual and pencil marks on the score sheets of the clarinet solo where indicating that improvisation was possible.

With digital aids, I have been able to complete the music score.

 A clarinet - piano edition will be ready at the end of June (info: www.goldenrivermusic.be).  Licensed material for orchestra is available. Info: mielpieters@telenet.be

 More info about the soloist: www.vlad.be

 Miel Pieters Fotografie & Multimedia

Statiestraat 9A b6

B-2180 Ekeren

Belgium

Tel 00 32 (0) 3 294 09 94

GSM 00 32 485 76 69 69

mielpieters@telenet.be

 Curr Vitea Miel Pieters

Musician

First violin deFilharmonie (Royal Philharmonic of Flanders) www.defilharmonie.be

Photographer

www.pbase.com/pieters1

 Passion for 18-century music.
Creations in Festival of Flanders and for Radio Klara.

Next project is a re-creation of a duo concerto for violin and clarinet round 1790.

        Despite his youth - born in 1977 - Vlad Weverbergh could easily be counted as one of Belgium's leading clarinettists. His phenomenal technique, masterly control, enviable musicality and stylistic versatility have won him praise from all quarters. A series of brilliant competition results at both Belgian and international venues have served to underline his talents. Vlad Weverbergh won the Young Tenuto competition (Belgium 1993), the Aurelian Octav Popa International Competition (Romania, 1993), the Fedekam National Soloist Champioships (Belgium 1994), the Concours Européen pour Jeunes Solists (Luxemburg, 1994), the Pro Civitate prize (Belgium 1995) and the Tenuto prize (Belgium, 1997). In March 2000 he was awarded the “Link” public prize in Tilburg (Holland).
Vlad Weverbergh is a graduate of the Royal Music Conservatory in Antwerp, where he studied with professor Walter Boeykens. He also studied with Aurelian Octav Popa in Brasov, with Guy Deplus in Nice and with the Melos String Quartet in Oberstdorf. In 1996 he attended the Interpretationskurs under Hans Deinzer at the Europäische Musikakademie in Bonn. He has performed as a guest soloist with the VRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Prima la Musica, Collegium Brugense, the Symphonic Orchestra of the Music Conservatory of Antwerp, the Hungarian Radio Orchestra, the George Enescu Philharmonia and the Philharmonia Hungarica. He has worked with conductors such as Philip Elis, Koboyashi Ken Ichiro, Christian Mandael, Robert Groslot, Patrick Peire, Dirk Vermeulen and Daniele Callegari.
Vlad Weverbergh brings his dash and gusto to the entire clarinet repertoire, be it Mozart, Weber, Rossini, Debussy, Stravinsky or contemporary works hot from the composer's pen. His eclectic musical taste is perfectly expressed in Trio Dor, the ensemble that he founded in 1993. Trio Dor (“dor” being a Romanian word roughly meaning nostalgia or longing) combines a highly personal mixture of original compositions and standards from the klezmer, tango and musette repertoire, with plenty of room for improvisation. In 1998, the group won the Chamber Music Beginner's Prize awarded by Jeugd en Musiek. Not surprisingly so, this award led to successful tours in Romania, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Great Britain and South Africa. Trio Dor has released two CDs. Vlad has also made recordings for Belgian, Dutch, Romanian and German TV and radio stations. In September 2001, he released his first recital CD – “Première Rhapsodie” (on the Etcetera label) - with pianist Yasuko Takahas. Apart from compositions by Debussy, Stravinsky, and Poulenc the CD also features lesser known works by the French clarinettist Louis Cahuzac, and a world premier of Four Greek Songs by the Maltese composer Charles Camilleri.
Vlad Weverbergh also plays with the trend-setting musical ensemble “Champ d'Action”. He has furthermore been invited to join “I Solisti di Vento”, an ensemble of the best Belgian wind instrumentalists. Up to 2002 he lectured on chamber music at Antwerp's Royal Music Conservatory. Currently, Vlad Weverbergh teaches the youngest generation of Belgian clarinettists at the municipal conservatory of Bruges (Belgium).

 

pick cuper grey

 

 

Northwestern University School of Music

 

Philippe Cuper, Clarinet: a Master Class

 

 

Live Webcast - Tuesday, May 6, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available on the World Wide Web and Internet2

Philippe CuperOn Tuesday, May 6 at 5 p.m. CDT, Philippe Cuper will give a free clarinet master class in Northwestern University's Regenstein Recital Hall. Principal clarinet with the Paris Opera Orchestra and an artist for Vandoren and Buffet Crampon, Philippe Cuper is one of the best representatives of the famous French school of clarinet playing.

Cuper has won prizes at major international competitions in Verscelli, Geneva, Prague, and Munich, where he now serves on the contest's jury. A member of the Versailles Conservatoire faculty, Cuper has appeared at festivals in Montreux, Prague, Cacovia, London, and Rio with the Czech Philharmonic and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded more than 30 CDs as a soloist and 30 CDs with orchestra.

Enjoy musical critique from a master - live from your own computer. 
This concert is sponsored by Northwestern University School of Music, Buffet Crampon Clarinets, and Vandoren Reeds/Dansr.

 

 

 

How To View the Webcast
On the day of the show, visit www.pickstaiger.org between 4:50 and 5:00 p.m. CDT for a link to the webcast. You will need the latest version of Real Player. For further information about using Real Player, visit www.pickstaiger.org/webcast.

For Internet2 Users
This webcast will also be available on Internet2. Information about the technical requirements for Internet2 viewing is available at www.pickstaiger.org/webcast

Further Information
If you have any questions regarding testing Real Player or the mpeg2 multicast feed, please contact Michael Curtis at m-curtis@northwestern.edu. 

All other questions about the event should be directed to nusmweb@northwestern.edu.

 

 

 

Master Class Program and Performers
Accompanist: Kay Kim, piano

Sonata by Camille Saint-Saëns
Student: Michael Morris

Concerto by Jean Françaix
Student: Brad Whitfield

Première Rhapsodie by Claude Debussy
Student: DeMarus Allen-Batieste

Cantilène by Louis Cahuzac
Student: Patrick Graham

Sonata by Francis Poulenc
Student: David Halperin

Concerto by Carl Nielsen
Student: Michael Yoshimi

 

 

 

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall
Northwestern University
50 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

Tickets: 847.467.4000
Information: 847.491.5441
www.pickstaiger.org

 

 

 

 

 

05/08/2008

Philippe Cuper Conducts Masterclass at Northwestern University (SEE THE VIDEO!)

Philippe Cuper.jpg

Buffet Crampon USA, in association with the Northwestern University School of Music, is pleased to provide a link to video of Buffet Crampon Artist Philippe Cuper's master class, conducted May 6, 2008. The master class was hosted by Buffet Crampon USA Artist Steve Cohen, Professor of Clarinet at Northwestern University. After having been soloist at the Orchestre des concerts Lamoureux and solo clarinet for the Orchestre Mondial des Jeunesse musicales, Mr. Cuper became principal soloist for the Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Paris in 1984. He has also performed with major orchestras and conducted clinics and masterclasses throughout the world.

To view Philippe Cuper's masterclass, please click on this link. (requires RealPlayer or .ram compatible player)

 

7 May 2008

Phillippe Cuper, Solo Clarinetist in the Paris Opera in Residency with Internet Stream Master Class and Performance at Northwestern University,  Professor Steve Cohen, Director

Evanston, Illinois USA

         The second Major Master Class and Performance event convened at this major University featuring from Paris star Soloist and Solo Clarinette in the Paris Opera Phillippe Cuper, one of the most accomplished French Clarinetists, well connected with the French School of Playing with teachers such as Guy Deplus.  On 6 May, a Master Class convened with advanced students covering a whole range of literature with intense critiques and coaching, making for a noticeable change in the playing of these students.   This is the 2nd such Master Class project, initiated by Professor Steve Cohen, retired Solo Clarinetist in the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans, the 1st Class with Karl Leister from the Berlin Philharmonic.  Information about the Internet aspects posted above, and is worth accessing for one's improvement.  For those who cannot travel to important events as this, this is a great answer for everone.

Lawrie Bloom as Soloist

Charlene Zimmerman as Weber Soloist

5 May 2008

Chicago Clarinet Ensemble Performs Major Concert at Northeastern Illinois University conducted by John Bruce Yeh,  Rose Sperrazza, Artistic Director

Chicago, Illinois USA

         The second of a series of concerts of this elite ensemble consisting of many of the finest Clarinetists from the Chicago area, many of whom are College teachers and professional performers, took place at Northeastern Illinois University.  The ensemble was conducted by famed Associate Principal Clarinetist in the Chicago Symphony John Bruce Yeh, with soloists Lawrie Bloom, Bass Clarinetist in the same Orchestra, and Charlene Zimmerman, Solo Clarinetist in the Chicago Lyric Opera, performing the CM von Weber Concertino Op 26 arranged for the ensemble. Program is posted above with details about the group.  Credit is due to the Artistic Director Rose Sperrazza, Professor of Clarinet at this University.

Stanley Hasty, Ruth Hasty, Kyle and James Pyne

Mr Hasty and Mike Getzin

Stanley Hasty and James Pyne

Hasty with Faculty opening night

Hasty, His Life, Performing and Teaching Presentation with Panel of 6 of his major students as presented by Elizabeth Gonglogson, Professor at University of New Hampshire

3 May 2008

Johnstone Woodwind Master Series Clarinet Festival - Honoring D Stanley Hasty -  Ohio State University -  James Pyne, Director

Columbus, Ohio USA

        Probably the most historic Clarinet Master Class Festival honoring probably one of the most influential Clarinet Performers and Pedagogues of the 20th Century and Professor Emeritus at the Eastman School of Music D Stanley Hasty,  was held at this great University under the generous sponsorship of Zoe and Jack Johnstone, and Directed by Professor James Pyne, former Solo Clarinetist in the Buffalo Philharmonic, and one of the best Clarinet teachers in the United States.  Appearing at this Conference were former success story students of Mr Hasty, including Kenneth John Grant, Solo Clarinetist in the Rochester Philharmonic and Professor at the Eastman School of Music, Russell Dagon, Retired Solo Clarinetist in the Milwaukee Symphony and Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University, Dr Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Distinguished Professor of Music at Michigan State University and founder of the Verdehr Trio responsible for the Commissioning of over 200 works for Clarinet, Violin and Piano along with worldwide tours performing New Music,  Kevin Schempf, Professor at Bowling Green State University, Bruce Curlette, Professor at Cedarville University,  Michael Webster, Professor at Rice University, David Etheridge, Professor at the University of Oklahoma and Director of the Annual Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium, David Bellman, Solo Clarinetist in the Indianapolis Symphony and Professor at the University of Indiana, Maurita Murphy Mead, Professor at the University of Iowa, and Guest Artists including Kristine Belisle, Solo Clarinetist in the Akron Symphony anf Professor at the University of Akron, and Kimberley Cole Luevano, Professor at East Michigan University.  Each of these artist/teachers are former students of Stanley Hasty and Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr.

                                          Concert Programs from Hasty Festival

Kenneth John Grant solo Bach

Uhl Clarinet Quartet

Grant in Brahms Clarinet Quintet

Brahms Quintet

Uhl Clarinet Quartet

Bruce Curlette in Recital

Kevin Schempf Bass Clarinet Solo

Grant Duo

Schempf Solo Clarinet

                             Maurita Murphy Mead Choro Performance and with D Stanley Hasty

                          Verdehr Trio Concert with World Premiere of 'Rhapsody' by Daniel Partuu

                                          Composer Competition Performance with Students

               Over 16 events were held including several Master Classes convened with 3 given by Mr Hasty, and the others given by Michael Webster, David Etheridge, covering Performance of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto,  Maurita Murphy Mead, covering Choro Brazilian Music, Russell Dagon, Elsa Ludewig Verdehr,   Gallery inserts showcase the Classes with handouts and concert programs, which are self explanatory.  Quality of all presentations were star class, and students performing were well advanced and showing the Hasty quality of Clarinet schooling from their teachers, who passed this valuable package of concepts and disciplines to their students.  Performance consistency was almost scary.  As Mr Hasty said near the end of the conference, the students are in good hands.

                                                             Michael Webster Master Class

Mozart Handout

                                          David Etheridge Master Class on Mozart Clarinet Concerto

                                                               Russell Dagon Master Class

                                                             Stanley Hasty Master Classes

                                                       Dr Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr Master Class

          An Honors High School Clarinet Choir under Don Nathan, consisting of audition only students from the Ohio region performed with near professional acclaim.  One of the high points of this Festival and a prime mission of the Johnstones was a Composition Competition consisting of 7 contestants reduced to 3, and then a final winner.  They performed their concerts with diversity of compositional style, including avant garde.

         A world premiere written for the Verdehr Trio was performed written by Daniel Pertuu named 'Rhapsody' , commissioned for this Festival by the Johnstone New Music Fund.  More information on the Clarinet Premiere Page

        Credit is due to the sponsors of this event, Zoe and Jack Johnstone, who totally underwrote the entire Festival.  Their Woodwind Master Series is held annually showcasing one of each of the Woodwind Instruments in the same fashion as presented here.  James Pyne is responsible for the artist logistics and programming of this conference, which was balanced in content and consistent.  There was not a dull moment during the entire event.   The entire week was nostalgic for everyone noting the effects of the teaching of this great man.  

       The entire Festival was open to the public for free making this one generous outreach to the Clarinet Community.

          

Copyright © 1999 WKA-Clarinet.org. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 02, 2008