 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2012-06-03 17:01
The current issue of the Clarinetist has a neat article about Michelle Zucovsky and her 50 year career with the LA Philharmonic. Don't miss checking it out.
She's a super clarinetist and deserves the tribute!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-06-04 01:18
Hi,
do you mean "The Clarinet" or is there another magazine that I haven't heard of? Not trying to make any point, just interested in knowing...
dn
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-06-04 12:04
She deserves whatever praise she gets. Next year it's my 50th but a different orchestra. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-06-04 13:26
Bob -
Michele was a child prodigy who joined the LA Philharmonic young to play alongside her father, Kalmen Bloch, who was the principal. Those years are part of her 50. I think she's in her mid-60s.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2012-06-04 20:16
I meant the latest issue of "The Clarinet" quarterly of the ICA.
The LA Phil wasn't exactly a world class symphony in those days..but good enough for Southern Cal.
Open blind auditions weren't ubiquitous in those days and grumbling was heard amongst the more experienced who craved the 2d chair.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-06-05 01:01
I'm not sure but I don't think she's in her mid 60s, that would have made her about 15-16 when she joined the orchestra. It would be interesting to know if that was true. What is true is that back in those days, it was when I was taking auditions as well, no one had a behind the screen audition. I took several auditions in hotel rooms in New York or a rented recital hall. It was very common for most of the major orchestras, and smaller ones too, to come to NY to give auditions. That's how I landed my first job in Halifax NS, Canada. When I got Baltimore I auditioned in the union hall there for the conductor, assistant conductor and the principal clarinetist and personal manager, no screen of course. Even when I was the runner up for the NY Philharmonic job there was no screen, it was intimidating to say the least to play for Bernstein ten feet away as a 23 year old. ( He told me he loved the way I played a mov't of a Bach Cello suite on the bass clarinet, obviously not quite enough though) :-). ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2012-06-05 01:19
According to he LA Phil website, she started playing in the orchestra in 1961 ... But it doesn't mention in exactly what capacity.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2012-06-05 02:29
The article in The Clarinet says she "joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic at 18 in 1961"
Therefore, she probably was born in 1943, making her 69 this year.
...GBK
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-06-05 03:09
18 makes more sense, pretty good at that. I believe she bagan as the assistant principal but I could be wrong. Good to have a father playing principal but that's not meant to take anything away from her, she's a great player. ESP
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-06-05 13:25
She's a great player, but the woods are full of great players. How do you spell N E P O T I S M ?
Ken Shaw
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-06-05 14:25
Anyone considering an orchestral clarinetist career should think about the longevity of players such as 'our own' Ed Palanker, and Michele Zukovsky, and Stanley Drucker, etc. etc. With players such as these (all great ones for sure) holding their positions for half a century (or more!), how many job openings will there be for the hundreds of conservatory graduates?
I'm glad to have a career in a different industry so that I don't have to fight that battle (besides not having nearly enough talent).
Post Edited (2012-06-05 18:42)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-06-05 19:48
I second Davids statement about the longevity of clarinet players. I know a great many that stay in their positions from the mid 20s until they retire, and often well past the usual 65 years of age. Another member of our section came in the same year as I did, 49 years ago. Another member is approaching his 40th if he hasn't reached it already. Once we get a decent job many of us just stay so there's very few openings each year. There just are not nearly enough jobs to go around, not even close. It might be the most difficult occupation in America to get a "good" job as an orchestral clarinetist that one can make a living at. We probably graduate a hundred new players each year, maybe more, for 3-5 job openings, if your lucky. And that's year after year after year. The numbers of qualified players just keep piling up but the job market keeps diminishing. ESP
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-06-05 21:52
Eddie, this is why gifted musicians should take a look at the military bands. You can start off in the lower grade bands and work your way up the ladder. The DC bands, West Point, can't remember the others outside of DC. You can have a really great career and have a good retirement, perhaps close to what some of the smaller symphonies pay.The DC bands can start you off as an E5 or higher. This is actually a very good good salary.
E6 starting salary is 2317.80 a month, with all sorts of benefits. Travel, free meals when you are playing on the road, extra if you are married with kids, free housing and some extra money for advancing school studies. Depending on your situation $4000 a month could be possible.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-06-05 22:00)
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2012-06-06 00:22
...more Michelle triva; beore she was married she dated Zubin Meta!
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