Clarinetfest 2012

"Let the clarinet games begin!"

Over the week of August 1-5, I attended the International Clarinet Association's 2012 Clarinetfest in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Clarinetfest is the annual gathering of clarinet professionals, teachers, amateurs and enthusiasts.  It moves around the globe (as it is an international organization); held at different locations each summer.  The Lincoln Clarinetfest was my second one; I'd attended the one in Kansas City, MO about four years ago.

This year's festival was wonderfully diverse and had a good range of lectures and recitals to attend.  The evening concerts alone are worth price of admission, featuring many world-renown clarinetting artists, including bass clarinettist and electronica genius Michael Lowenstern, Klezmer artists Corrado Giuffredi and David Krakauer, and jazz clarinettist Allan Vache, to name a few.

Attendees could attend lectures, demonstrations, and masterclasses, or simply listen to new music from attending recitalists.  I attended a lecture about teaching young beginners music (beyond the clarinet, but also how to integrate it), a masterclass led by Fred Ormand, a couple of Klezmer/Jewish clarinet workshops, and several pedagogy lectures (how to teach, or different traditions and methods of teaching).  The theme of the convention was "Heritage to Horizon", which meant a bit of looking back to several influential teachers within the discipline of clarinet playing and a look forward to what clarinet playing can become, and what the clarinet can do.  With regards to the heritage aspect, some legendary teachers were discussed, including Daniel Bonade, Robert Marcellus, and Kalmen Opperman. 

A panel on the teaching methods and contributions of Robert Marcellus.

Tim Puwalski, demonstrating Klezmer music.  He taught us a tune, by ear, and eventually we were marching around the room, Pied Piper-style, playing a tune.

Allan Vache and his band.  An outstanding evening of jazz music.

It was a great week, overall.  I picked up some new ideas, met up with some old friends and teachers, and have a stack of music and information to start sifting through.  A terrific way to recharge the clarinet batteries!  Now, I must go practice!