 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-07-19 15:31
Being unable to attend due to company, I [and others, I'm sure] would like some comments from our many? attendees. No doubt the next ICA "Clarinet" will cover it well, but "off the cuff" reports here will be great! TKS, Don
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Author: Mario
Date: 2000-07-19 15:51
Fabulous music! I like that Dr. Etheridge brought many young new faces with a lot of fresh things to say. The evening concerts were simply outstanding. The artistic level of the professional players is incredible. We had variety in styles and pieces with a good balance between old and new, between jazz and classical, between folk and traditional. Everything was excellent. Many performances were literally out of this world.
The atmosphere was serious yet relaxed with some good humnour thrown in. Performers and audiences related extremely well in a great intimate setting. It was obvious that people (both on stage and on the floor) were having a great time.
I also enjoyed the lack of parallel sessions. I was able to cover the whole conference without missing anything.
The Carlett center was excellent for this event. The quality of the concert hall was the best I have seen in these ClarinetFest.
The only point to improve is *** FOOD ***. We need food on site (especially at lunch) so that we can grab something to eat without leaving the site and putting up with 100 degree weather. The local restaurants were excellent though (much better than in Columbus where you had to choose between starvation and food poisoning).
I spent 4 days at the Conference. It was time very well spent.
I am going to New Orleans next year. The gentleman organizing ClarinetFest 2001 gave a great Sales pitch and all of us have to be there now. The Sweedish guy needs to create some excitement though, since Stockholm is far and what he presented to us was not pitched particularly well. Well! one year at the time.
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2000-07-19 22:11
This was my first trip to ClarinetFest and I thought it was great. My son went with me to help in the booth of Clarinet Books and More. Sales were good.
It was especially fun to meet and talk to well known clarinet personalities (Howard Klug, Luis Rossi, Greg Smith, etc.) and many people from the klarinet list.
Because of the booth, we could only get to the evening concerts but they were great. I was impressed that Larry Combs and Paquito D'Rivera where there for the whole time.
I especially enjoyed the playing of John Manasse and Paulo Sergio Santos from Brazil (after hours concert).
My son got a new Greg Smith mouthpiece as payment for his help during the week. Greg bought some books.
I know next year ClarinetFest is going to be in a hotel which will probably be much better for the exhibitors. I wonder what the performance venue will be like?
I agree there was a problem with lunch. After the first day I sent my son to get sandwiches, but on Sunday the place we had been getting them was closed! They also ran out of food at the ClarinetFest BBQ. However, food was inexpensive. We had good meals every night for $18-22 for the two of us. I am afraid that both meals and lodging (we were in a motel at about $55/night) will be much more expensive in New Orleans. However, we had a rental car and probably won't need one in New Orleans.
Stefan Harg is the artistic director of ClarinetFest in Sweden. I am sure he will do a good job.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-07-19 23:01
Don, I had an amazing time in Norman at ClarinetFest2000.
I am in awe of the players. My son and I stayed at the LaQuinta and so did a number of the performers. Breakfast
(which was provided by the hotel, in the lobby) was like a
who's who of the clarinet world--I hope they didn't catch me staring too much. The music and venue was excellent.
Julian Bliss drew perhaps the largest crowd--he performed
like an old-pro and he had it all memorized. My son and I
often sat in the balcony with a bird's eye view--it was all
spectacular. Also, Dr. Messenger led the ICA clarinet choir which was open to all registered attendees, and he was
very patient and helpful. Don, I took my alto and was
scared to death because it looked like I might be the only alto at first. Fortunately another player showed up on
alto and she took the solo in the Jacques LANCELOT adaptation of Mozart's ActeI n3:Arie (Tamino.) I had
a terrific time and am planning for next years.
I missed the sneezy dinner gathering; time went so fast and there were so many things to do that I forgot. It was very nice to meet Mark Charette and his son. Michael
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-07-20 13:14
I'm envious of all that could attend. I really wanted to be there but for two reasons couldn't make it myself. (1) I already planned being on a trip to Colorado with my sons scout troop the week before and (2)I really couldn't afford to be gone for two weeks during the busiest time of the year for me. I hope to make New Orleans next year.
J. Butler
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Author: John
Date: 2000-07-20 14:38
I haven't been to a Clarinet Fest since they first started in Denver - maybe the early 70's. It was a great experience and I enjoyed everything, even the long hot walks back and forth from the dorm. Those walks turned out to be a great way to meet other players. I talked with players from Korea, Belgium, France, New Zealand, Australia, and all over the US. The young lady (Kathy from Australia) who was always practicing down the hall and nervously jabbering the whole time won 2nd in the young artist competition. I thought the atmosphere was open and friendly. No need to be cautious about politics and everyone was happy to share.
When I went to the early fests, I can only remember one woman playing: Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr. Now there are many wonderful women players. What a great change.
As said by others, the music was great and the concert hall a perfect venue. Carbonare blew me away with what I thought was the best tone and most musical playing there. There seemed to be at least one squeek out of each concert. Stanley Hasty's comment was that nerves makes us close up our throats and causes the upper partials.
Thanks to Mark Cherette for the Klarinet list get together and to his wife for the really nice wine bottle cover for being a Sneezy.org sponsor (JB Linear Music). Mark, my wife approved of the one I picked out!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-07-20 15:04
Thanx to all responders, as I may have seemed to be saying, I'm still crying in my English-Style beer [Coach's] by being unable to make the Fest [visit by a guest {didn't intend the rhyme}] . The meet at Coach's with about a dozen cl BB friends was my high-point, and was great!! Don
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-07-20 16:23
I'm enjoying all your reports! The raves about excellent performances have given me a nice list of new names, of people whose playing I hope to find on recordings.
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