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Contact Stanley Drucker through Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-586-3433 or jamesarts@worldnet.att.net.

Stanley Drucker - Solo Clarinetist Emeritus in the New York Philharmonic; Recipient of Guinness Book of Records as longest standing Professional Clarinetist in Music History, Newly initiated into the listings of Musicians in the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society

In this podcast we go inside the Orchestra, comparing how New York Philharmonic musicians over time played certain licks or passages in a variety of works. Are they the same or different, and why? Our guides in this journey are the Philharmonic players themselves, both current and former members, in conversation with the Orchestra’s Archivist and Historian Barbara Haws. For the Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season, Sony Classical released a 65-CD box set of the Orchestra’s recordings dating from 1917 through 1995, and this got us thinking about new ways of listening and assessing the Philharmonic’s history.

Latest Episode: Stanley Drucker (clarinet)



This episode of Listening Through Time features the New York Philharmonic’s former Principal Clarinet Stanley Drucker in conversation with the Orchestra’s Archivist / Historian Barbara Haws, considering how clarinet performance practices and interpretations have changed and remained the same over the decades. Works discussed include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Debussy’s Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Mahler. Clarinet players discussed are Simeon Bellison, Alexander Williams, Robert McGinnis, Henri Leroy, and Benny Goodman.

 

Biography

 At the conclusion of the 2008-2009 season, New York Philharmonic Principal Clarinet Stanley Drucker celebrated 60 years as a member of the Orchestra and announced his retirement. In honor of his 50th anniversary, and in recognition of his highly respected and widely acknowledged musical excellence and dedication, he was named Musical America's 1998 Instrumentalist of the Year. He has made approximately 190 solo appearances with the Philharmonic since joining it at age 19.

The Philharmonic estimates that he has performed in 10,200 concerts, which is approximately 70% of the total number of their concerts since 1842. He has been Principal Clarinetist for a record 48 years, playing under 9 Music Directors, among them Bruno Walter, Dmitri Mitropolous, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez and Zubin Mehta. He has performed in 60 countries on tour.

 Mr. Drucker maintains an active solo career in addition to his Philharmonic duties, appearing with ensembles throughout the world. He has been twice nominated for Grammy Awards in the category of Best Instrumental Soloist/Classical with Orchestra: In 1992 for his recording of the Copland Concerto with the Philharmonic and Leonard Bernstein, and in 1982 for John Corigliano's Concerto with the Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta. Mr. Drucker is featured on a number of other Philharmonic recordings: under the direction of Leonard Bernstein in Debussy's Premiere Rapsodie; in Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto; and in the world-premiere live performance (1977) of the Corigliano Clarinet Concerto, which is a part of the Orchestra's acclaimed CD box set, The Historic Broadcasts: 1923-1987. Mr. Drucker's other recordings include New York Legends: Recitals with Principals from the New York Philharmonic; Schumann's Complete Works for Winds and Piano; the Mozart Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in A, K.581, and a new two-CD set of the two clarinet sonatas, Trio in A minor, and Quintet in B minor of Johannes Brahms entitled Drucker Plays Brahms. He is also heard on the world-premiere broadcast of William Bolcom's Clarinet Concerto, part of the New York Philharmonic Special Editions' boxed set, An American Celebration.

 Mr. Drucker began clarinet studies at age ten with Leon Russianoff, his principal teacher, and later attended the High School of Music and Art and the Curtis Institute of Music. He was appointed Principal Clarinetist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at age 16, the Adolf Busch Chamber Players at age 17, and the Buffalo Philharmonic at age 18. He has the distinction of being one of the few living orchestral musicians whose biography appears in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Contact Stanley Drucker through Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-586-3433 or jamesarts@worldnet.att.net.

Photo of Stanley Drucker: Chris Lee

Read an Interview with Stanley Drucker at http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&interviewNum=35&personNum=106&selectedNav=&showText=1#tabview=tab1

Read and hear a National Public Radio story about Stanley Drucker.

 

New Information Under development 

Message from Stanley Drucker

 

Agendas and Performance and Teaching Philosophy

Books and Clarinet Studies

Recordings listed on his WKA Page

               

          

             

Activities Past

Michigan State University Clarinet Spectacular - 9 October 2009

Vandoren Clarinet Ensemble Festival - Washington DC - 7- 8 November 2009

Nassau-Suffolk Band (Long Island, NY) Soloist - 31 JanBrooklyn Chamber Music Society (Brahms Clarinet Quintet)  - 19 February 2010

Hanover Wind Symphony (Clarinet Soloist)  - Morristown, New Jersey - 21 March 2010

Master Class - Syosset High School, Long Island - 24 March 2010

Master Class and Concert-  Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia - 26 March 2010

Jersey City College Master Class - 29 March 2010

American Chamber Ensemble - Hofstra University - 11 April 2010

University of Florida Residency and Honorary Doctorate - 30 April - 3 May 2010

Wright University Residency - Dayton, Ohio - 23 - 28 May 2010

Clarinetopia - SUNY Stony Brook, New York - 14 June 2010

Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium - 17 - 19 June 2010

Buffet Clarinet Academy - Northern Florida University, Jacksonvillle - 2 - 6 August 2010

1st European Clarinet Festival - Kortijk, Belgium - 30 October 7 November 2010

 

 

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Revised: January 13, 2020