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November 2010 Hot News
20 November 2010
Performances by Peruvian Bass
Clarinetist Marco Antonio Mazzini - The "Concerto Silvestre" by Peruvian
composer Rafael Leonardo Junchaya, is the first bass clarinet concerto ever
written in Peru.
Lima, Peru
The "Concerto Silvestre" by Peruvian composer Rafael Leonardo Junchaya, is the first bass clarinet concerto ever written in Peru. It was commissioned by Marco Antonio Mazzini in 2008 and it has proved to be a very succesful piece. Marco Antonio had already performed a piece by Junchaya called "Three episkenic dances" (written for Thelema Trio and recorded for Innova Recordings), that inspired him to ask Junchaya to start a new work for bass clarinet.
The concerto has two versions: "Concertino" (string orchestra and percussion) and "Concerto" (full orchestra). It has the traditional 3 movements (the first and second are linked).
Since its world premier in Spain, the "Concerto Silvestre" has been performed by Marco Antonio Mazzini with the following orchestras in Europe and South America:
1.
7th
April,
2009:
"Concerto
Silvestre"
(world
premier)
Gent
University
Orchestra.
Steven
Decraene,
conductor.
Valladolid,
Spain.
2.
7th
May
2009:
"Concerto
Silvestre"
Gent
University
Orchestra.
Steven
Decraene,
conductor.
DeBijloke
concert
hall.
Belgium.
3. 9th May 2009: "Concerto Silvestre"
Gent University Orchestra. Steven Decraene, conductor.
DeBijloke Concert Hall.
Belgium.
4. 5th July 2009: "Concerto Silvestre"
National Symphony Orchestra of Peru. Eduardo Garcia Barrios, conductor (Mexico).
National Museum.
Lima, Peru.
5. 31rst July 2009: "Concertino Silvestre" (World premier)
Orquesta Camerata de Guatemala. Steven Decraene, conductor.
Conservatorio Nacional de Música,
Guatemala.
6. 20th August 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
Colegio Mayor.
Lima, Peru.
7. 24th August 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
National Museum.
Lima, Peru.
8. 27th August 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
National Museum.
Lima, Peru.
9. 31rst August 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
Centro Comercial Mega Plaza.
Lima, Peru.
10.
17th
September
2010:
"Concertino
Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
Auditorium EL Buen Pastor School.
Lima, Peru.
11. 21rst September 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
Carapongo new church.
Lima, Peru.
12. 30th September 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
Auditorium Inmaculada school.
Lima, Peru.
13. 22nd October 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Orchestra of Trujillo. Teófilo Alvarez, conductor.
Teatro Municipal.
Trujillo, Peru.
14. 20th November 2010: "Concertino Silvestre"
National Symphony Young Orchestra of Peru. Pablo Sabat, conductor.
National Museum (as a guest during the Clarinet Festival in Lima).
Lima, Peru
Marco Mazzini live with the GUSO orchestra at the Bijloke Concert Hall in Belgium. First movement of the "Concertorto Silvestre":
17 November 2010
Stanley Drucker, New York Philharmonic Solo
Clarinetist Emeritus, Inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame with
other distinguished Artists
Huntington, New York USA
Dr Stanley Drucker,
one of the most important historical icons of the clarinet in the last century,
was handed another Honor in being inducted into the Long Island (New York) Music
Hall of Fame, an honor given to the most noteworthy of performing contributors
to the culture of this area. Stanley Drucker's track record, as recorded in the
Guiness Book of Records, and his Honorary membership in the New York
Philharmonic-Symphony Society Roster of members (the only musician in the
Orchestra to be listed), and his recently conferred Honorary Doctorate in Music
from the University of Florida, gives a glowing story of accomplishment all
should strive to achieve. There are 2 pages on the WKA site dedicated to
him, VIP-Drucker, and
60th Year Commemoration with the New York Philharmonic
which show his incredible history spanning since 1946.
What has made
his popularity in his home island from Massapequa is his and his wife's
performing frequently to audiences on Long Island with the American Chamber
Ensemble and the many chamber music recitals performed over a long time span.
On 13 November, he performed a full recital in Merrick Long Island with a near
full house at the Calhoun High School for over 800 attendees.
At age 81, and
still performing at high velocity, he is indeed a legend that will be active for
many years to come.
30 October - 7 November 2010
1st European Clarinet Competition
and Festival - Kortrijk, Belgium, Eddy Vanoosthuyse, Director
On 5 November 2010, the
European Clarinet
Association officially was inaugurated at the first European Clarinet
Festival in Kortrijk, Belgium
Kortrijk, Belgium
The first
independently organized symposium of this magnitude was launched in this small
town of Kortrijk, Belgium, with incredible national arts support as indicated on
the website, including Patronage from the Queen of Belgium. The event was
handled in an agency class management quality, and the events, including
appearances with the Brussels Philharmonic and the Flemish Chamber Orchestra and
the Military Band of Belgium, and an International array of the finest
clarinetists of this era acting as performers and judges in the International
Clarinet Competition, which rivaled the competitions the Nielsen and the Munich
Competitions. The website has a detailed description of the events,
the competition details, and the visiting groups performing. A part
of this festival concentrated on Clarinet Ensembles and Choirs from all of
Europe. Several of the principal faculty and judges, including the
Festival Director Eddy Vanoosthuyse are WKA Officer VIP's.
During this
festival saw the Official start of the
European Clarinet
Association which was formed to serve clarinetists in Europe and
Internationally. Like the WKA, it is an online formatted group where
information is more immediately available, and its purpose is to serve not only
players and students, but affiliated organizations as well. There are
national clarinet associations throughout the continent, and ECA is designed to
reinforce their goals and agendas.
Performances
held during this week were International class, and the competition attracted
over 100 contestants, with 3 Prizes awarded. As the Repertoire indicated, the
level of performance was treacherously high, with music that wouldn't be
performed 40 years ago. There were 2 prize winners, the 1st Prize a 2
Clarinet set of Buffet Toscas, valued at about $14,000 plus $10,000, and the 2nd
Prize a Buffet Tosca Bb Clarinet and a cash prize. Winners were 1st
Prize:
Anna Hashimoto - Japan,
2nd Prize:
Valentin Uryupin - Russia
As can be noted, this event opens doors for
bright performance futures, as performance opportunities are part of the Prize
won. This certainly has raised the bar of standard and the win here is a
well won credential.
It is hoped that this will be a first and continuing program and a show of
European unity of purpose in promoting the instrument. Credit is due to the
magnificent logistic planning and carry-through by all involved, especially Eddy
Vanoosthuyse and his team who made this event a win for all clarinetists.
6 - 7 November 2010
Vandoren/Buffet
5th Clarinet Ensemble Festival - University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California USA
The fifth
Vandoren/Buffet Clarinet Ensemble Festival, in its trend setting evolution since
the first one in Atlanta, Georgia, has grown into a major event involving
Clarinet Choirs and related ensembles, including Chamber Quartets and other
combinations performed to high standards. From its inception, Mitchell Estrin,
Artistic Director, and Professor of Clarinet at the University of Florida in
Gainesville, along with legend of the Clarinet Choir field Harvey Hermann, have
made an important mark in expanding the interest and levels and reminding all of
the history of the Choir movement, reaching back to Simeon Bellison (Solo
Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic and one of the most important teachers
of the 20th Century, having mentored such American School icons as Daniel Bonade,
Leon Russianoff, and several other greats). It was Bellison who organized a
Clarinet Choir that performed regularly at Carnegie Hall in New York, and caught
the interests of others who further made the Choirs popular. Harvey
Hermann was one of the foremost icons having built up his group at the
University of Illinois at Champaign for many years, and being responsible for
the transcription of many of the major Orchestral works for this combination.
Many other Directors since have expanded the contemporary repertoire and at this
point there is a wealth of quality music to be played.
Studio Musician
Seminar
Bass Clarinet
Seminar
The past
Ensemble Festivals, from 2008, at North Illinois University emphasized the
College teacher and Orchestral opportunities and trials for those headed for
careers there, 2009 at the USAF Band in Washington emphasized the Military Band
opportunities, and this year an emphasis was placed on the Los Angeles Studio
Music field dealing with opportunities, the need to be fully prepared as a
doubler with equal fluency in playing the entire clarinet family, the saxophone
family, oboe, and flute. The competence expected with no compromise was
well talked about by 5 of the best doublers in LA such as Gary Bovyer, Gary
Gray, Don Higgans, James Kanter, and Phil O'Connor. A seminar with these
players was held with questions and anectdotes from all over the room.
Another seminar was held regarding Bass Clarinet performance and trends.
Like many events that happen, there were exhibits of products all familiar such
as Clarinets, Accessories such as mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, tools, stands,
sheet music, most provided by Vandoren, Buffet-Crampon, Jeanne Music, and RDG
Music. There was ample time for everyone to browse, try things and
purchase.
UCLA Clarinet
Quartet and the Orange County Wind Symphony Clarinet Ensemble
Licorace
Ananimous Clarinet Ensemble and University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble
Clare Fischer
Clarinet Choir and the Cal Arts Clarinrt Ensemble under William Powell
Forte Clarinet
Quartet and the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir under Margaret Thornhill
Free Mason
Clarinet Quartet and the Orange County High School Arts Clarinet Ensemble
Edmond Wells
the Bass Clarinet Quartet
Festival
Clarinet Choir under Harvey Hermann
As the
galleries indicate, there were several top notch ensembles performing including
the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir under Margaret Thornhill, The University of
Florida Clarinet Ensemble under Mitchell Estrin (a group that has been nominated
for a Grammy for their latest CD Clarinet Thunder), many University Chamber
groups, the Wells Bass Clarinet Quartet, the Orange County Wind Symphony
Clarinet Ensemble, the Chris Fischer Clarinet Ensemble, the Cal Arts Clarinet
Ensemble under William Powell, the Licorice Ananimos Clarinet Ensemble, the
Freemason Clarinet Quartet, and the UCLA Clarinet Quartet, and as the Finale,
the Mass Clarinet Choir headed by Harvey Hermann, with a premiere and
performance of the first movement of the Schubert Symphony #5.
Credit for this success cannot be amiss with the organizational skills of
Director Mitchell Estrin, Michael Skinner, President of DANSR (Vandoren
importers), Professor Gary Gray, and the students who carried out the logistics
to make this great event happen. As has been said many times about
conferences, every opportunity to come and grow is of serious importance for all
who can attend. It is a major educational and social event which can bring
future opportunities especially developing students. It is in fact a labor
of love to go to the effort to organize and fulfill the mission of such an event
as this. The above directors are owed an intangible debt of gratitude from
all who get involved. This event was no fee for all who attended.
November 1, 2010
Richie Hawley will
begin teaching at Rice's Shepherd School in 2011
HOUSTON -- (Nov. 1,
2010) -- Rice University announced today that it has
appointed critically acclaimed clarinetist Richie
Hawley as professor of clarinet in the Shepherd
School of Music. Hawley is the principal clarinet of
the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and head of
the Clarinet Department at the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which
under his leadership became one of the most
outstanding clarinet schools in the country.
"Richie Hawley is one of America's premiere
clarinetists and pedagogues," said Robert Yekovich,
dean of the Shepherd School. "His appointment as
professor of clarinet adds further luster to an
already stellar faculty roster. The Shepherd School
is indeed fortunate to welcome Richie to our
community of world-class artist teachers."
In the fall of 2011, Hawley will debut in his
new role at the Shepherd School, which has become
one of the nation's most prestigious music programs
at a major university since its dedication 34 years
ago. Its orchestral training program, of which
Hawley will be a part, is widely considered to be
among the very finest. Hawley succeeds Michael
Webster, professor of clarinet, who will retire from
a distinguished teaching career at the end of this
academic year.
With his trademark velvety, sonorous tone,
Hawley is dedicated to performing chamber music and
appears regularly as a chamber musician and
recitalist throughout the United States and abroad.
Hawley was appointed principal clarinet of the
CSO in 1994 at the age of 23, only two years after
graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music. He
has since enjoyed a rewarding and multifaceted
career as an orchestral clarinetist, recitalist,
chamber musician, teacher and clinician.
During the summer season, Hawley serves on the
faculty at the Music Academy of the West in Santa
Barbara, one of the premiere summer festivals for
exceptionally talented musicians from around the
world.
As both a performer and an educator, Hawley
has been the recipient of several coveted awards. In
1988 his trio, "Trio Con Brio," won first prize at
the Coleman Chamber Music competition. That same
year he was one of five musicians to receive the
Gold Medal as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts
from Ronald Reagan in a ceremony at the White
House. He has received the Léni Fé Bland Foundation
Career Grant twice, and he was awarded the 2009
Glover Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year at
the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of
Music's convocation ceremony.
Originally from Los Angeles, Hawley began his
clarinet studies with Yehuda Gilad at the Colburn
School of Performing Arts at the age 9. He made his
orchestral solo debut at age 13, performing Weber
with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as the winner of
its student stars competition. At age 14 he
performed Rossini's "Introduction, Theme and
Variations" at one of the New York Philharmonic's
young person's subscription concerts as a winner of
the Philharmonic's national talent search
competition. While a student of Donald Montanaro at
the Curtis Institute of Music, Hawley appeared as a
soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Hawley
graduated from Curtis in 1992.
A Buffet-Crampon artist, Hawley performs on
the Tosca model of clarinet. He is also a Rico
Performing Artist and Clinician and plays
exclusively on the Reserve Classic reeds.
Hawley is married to Shepherd alumna Maureen
Nelson, who is a member of the Enso Quartet, which
was the school's resident graduate string quartet
from 2002 to 2004.
Located in Houston, Rice University is
consistently ranked one of America's best teaching
and research universities. Known for its
"unconventional wisdom," Rice is distinguished by
its: size -- 3,279 undergraduates and 2,277 graduate
students; selectivity -- 12 applicants for each
place in the freshman class; resources -- an
undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5-to-1;
sixth largest endowment per student among American
private research universities; residential college
system, which builds communities that are both
close-knit and diverse; and collaborative culture,
which crosses disciplines, integrates teaching and
research, and intermingles undergraduate and
graduate work.
Copyright © 1999 WKA-Clarinet.org. All rights reserved.
Revised: November 27, 2010