Originally published in The Clarinet 51/1 (December 2023).
Printed copies of The Clarinet are available for ICA members.
ClarinetFest® 2023 Report
by Sarah Manasreh
ClarinetFest® 2023 in Denver, Colorado, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ICA, was one for the books, boasting record attendance and an abundance of concerts, lectures, and other events. Held at the Westin Westminster and Denver Marriott Westminster hotels, this bustling conference had attendees and presenters from 34 countries and 6 continents, holding true to its theme: “Our Global Community: Past, Present, and Future.” Delightfully programmed, this festival had something for everyone and welcomed beginners, enthusiasts, students, and professionals of all kinds.
Unique to ClarinetFest® 2023, and in addition to the traditional evening headlining concerts, were the standalone daily headliner performances “ClarinetFest® at Noon” and “ClarinetFest® at 5.” This, most enjoyably, allowed for a broader assortment of themed performances and musical settings featuring masterful artists. In addition to the spectacular headliner performances, many of these concerts featured sit-down interviews with Artistic Director Wesley Ferreira, providing a fresh new way of getting to know the music and musicians we enjoyed.
The ICA committees provided fantastic events that focused on the experiences of many. The Health and Wellness committee hosted daily stress-relieving wellness classes such as Zumba and Sulliman Stability Training. These were followed by expert somatic master classes. Each morning the ICA Clarinet Enthusiasts Committee hosted warmup sessions that welcomed everyone. The ICA College and Pre-Professional Engagement Committee captivated the audience with sessions on potential career paths such as chamber music, entrepreneurship, and professional ensembles as well as ways to prepare for these careers.
In celebration of the ICA’s 50th anniversary, many sessions focused on storytelling about the past and looking to the future. Clarinetists who attended and performed at the first Denver conferences told their stories in a celebratory session moderated by Daniel Silver. A roundtable discussion, moderated by Robert Spring, gave space for 11 ICA past presidents to discuss the successes, challenges, and experiences they had during their time at the helm. Additionally, ClarinetFest® 2023 was full of premieres and special compositions that paid homage to the anniversary while launching us into a world of fantastic potential.
Of course, a conference of this magnitude could not have been made possible without generous sponsors. The ClarinetFest® 2023 sponsors include:
Sustaining Sponsors:
Buffet Crampon, F. Arthur Uebel, and Vandoren
Altissimo Sponsors:
Chedeville, D’Addario, Rovner, Henri Selmer Paris, Silverstein Works, Yamaha
Clarion Sponsors:
Backun Musical Services, B. Corbin Clarinet Products, Royal Global, RZ Woodwinds
Chalumeau Sponsors:
ALRY Publications, Lisa’s Clarinet Shop, Midwest Musical Imports, United States Marine Corps Music Program
ClarinetFest® 2023 was truly a dazzling event. Artistic Director Wesley Ferreira and the rest of the Artistic Leadership Team—Copper Ferreira, Joshua Gardner, Emily Kerski, and Jana Starling—did a spectacular job building an inclusive and diverse program that celebrated the unique interests and abilities of clarinetists from all over the world. In leaving the conference, I reflected on the generations before us that paved the way, was elated by the current energy that clarinetists are bringing into the world, and in complete awe of the artistic and creative potential that has yet to come. ClarinetFest® 2023 confirmed that despite our different backgrounds, experiences, interests, languages, and traditions, the clarinet is the thread that pulls us all together.
ClarinetFest® 2023 Event Write-Ups:
Day 1:
Raquel Contreras performing with the Dalí Quartet: Domenic Salmerni, violin; Carlos Rubio, violin; Adriana Linares, viola; and Jesus Morales, cello PC: Shiana Montanari
Joanna McCoskey Wiltshire performing at the High Meets Low recital on July 5 PC: Shiana Montanari
The bustling registration desk at the Westin Westminster PC: Shiana Montanari
Anthony Aguayo performs at the Uno, Dos, Trio, Cinco… Winds, Voice, and Piano event PC: Shiana Montanari
The Violetta Duo—Madelyn Moore, clarinet and Dorothy Glick Maglione, flute—perform on Wind Chamber Music: A Reflection on Climate Change, Our National Parks, Winter … and a Surprise! PC: Shiana Montanari
Artistic Director Wesley Ferreira interviews Carlos Ferreira on Thursday’s “ClarinetFest® at 5” PC: Shiana Montanari
Kornel Wolak performs on clarinet with Michael Bridge on digital accordion as the Bridge & Wolak duo on Thursday’s “ClarinetFest® at Noon” PC: Shiana Montanari
Nadia Sofokleous performs on Thursday’s evening concert with the United States Air Force Academy Band PC: Shiana Montanari
Shawn Copeland works with clarinetist Samara Morris on the Health and Wellness Committee’s Expert Somatic Master Class on Thursday morning PC: Shiana Montanari
Maria du Toit works with clarinetist Julián González on Weber’s first concerto PC: Shiana Montanari
Elsa Verdehr and Kimberly Cole Luevano at Pedagogy Pathways – An Hour with Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr PC: Lucas Willsie
Theresa Martin and Leslie Moreau perform on Robert Spring’s tribute concert “Something Old, Something New” PC: Shiana Montanari
Mark Nuccio, clarinet, and André Moisan, bass clarinet, perform on Friday’s “ClarinetFest® at 5” concert PC: Shiana Montanari
Friday’s “ClarinetFest® at Noon” concert featured members of the clarinet family; Sarah Watts performs on the contrabass clarinet with Suyeon Kim on piano PC: Shiana Montanari
Pam Diaz and Daryll Stevens perform on the Colorado Clarinet Hour PC: Shiana Montanari
Nicholas Davies, bass clarinet, performs a piece by Isang Yun on the Colorado Clarinet Hour PC: Shiana Montanari
Yehuda Gilad works with clarinetist Esteban Gurrola in a master class PC: Shiana Montanari
Kathleen Jones performs with Grace Choi, piano, on “A Musical Spectrum of 20th Century Works” PC: Shiana Montanari
ClarinetFest® at Noon on July 8 featured Brazilian Choro Music with Lucas Andrade and Quarteto de Clarinetes Sopras de PE: Lucas Andrade, Amandy Bandeira, Genilson Luiz, Jônatas Zacarias, Marcos Cohen, and Carl Dixion on pandeiro PC: Shiana Montanari
Bharat Chandra performs with the Fort Collins Symphony, under the direction of Wes Kenney, on Saturday’s Evening Concert PC: Shiana Montanari
ICA Board President Diane Barger and Executive Director Jessica Harrie draw names for the raffle PC: Shiana Montanari
Ecesu Sertesen works with clarinetist Valeria Ramírez Arias PC: Shiana Montanari
Tedie Cahill at the ClarinetFest® photo booth PC: Angerla Tavira
Christopher Mothersole performs William O. Smith’s Slow Motion in the Lake House at the Westin Westminster Hotel PC: Rachel Yoder
Barbara Borowicz performs Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Harlekin for Solo Clarinet PC: Rachel Yoder
Jaren Hinkley, Jeff Anderle, Tzuying Huang, Suyeon Kim, Wesley Ferreira, Sarah Watts, and Jason Alder after “The Clarinet Family” “ClarinetFest® at Noon” performance PC: Rongbing Shen
The panel from “The First Denver Conferences—Celebratory Session,” front row (left to right): F. Gerard Errante, Michael Webster, Bil Jackson; back row: Daniel Silver, James Schoepflin, Phil Aaholm, Alan Stanek, Robert Riseling, Charles West, Ramon Kireilis
ClarinetFest® attendees try equipment at the exhibit hall PC: Angelina Villarreal
Jack Liang, Suzanne Tirk, and Cassie Keogh peruse sheet music offerings in the ClarinetFest® exhibit hall PC: Angelina Villarreal
Amanda Perez at the ICA booth in the exhibit hall PC: Angelina Villarreal
Mauro Di Gioia with ClarinetFest® attendees. PC: Heidi Guzman
ICA volunteers Grant Westerman, Willa Sharp, and Allison Neuman PC: Heidi Guzman
ClarinetFest® attendees try equipment at the exhibit hall PC: Angela Tavira
