2024 ICA Officer Election

2024 ICA Officer Elections

Please note: Marco Antonio Mazzini has withdrawn his candidacy for International Vice President. 

The ICA election will be held online from March 15 to May 1, 2024. The election will be administered by Jessica Harrie, ICA executive director. All ICA members in good standing will be emailed a link for online  voting. For those members who wish to vote by paper ballot, the member must request a paper ballot in writing to the corporation office.

Ballots submitted by regular mail must arrive to the ICA office by April 15, 2024, to be counted.

Please review the candidate statements and biographies, below, and follow the link at the bottom of the page to vote online. Please review the candidate statements and biographies for the offices of president-elect and secretary. All ICA members in good standing are encouraged to participate in the election by casting a vote for the candidate of their choice in each of the open positions.

PRESIDENT ELECT

CHRISTOPHER NICHOLS

Christopher Nichols is associate professor of clarinet at the University of Delaware where he performs with Christiana Winds and Tiger Lily  Trio, and hosts Delaware Clarinet Day annually. He is a Silverstein  ProTeam and Rice Clarinet Works Artist, as well as an artist clinician for Légère Reeds and Buffet Crampon USA. He received an Established Artist Fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts in 2015. Nichols regularly performs with orchestras throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Recent chamber music collaborations include the Serafin Ensemble and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. His solo and chamber music recordings have received critical acclaim in publications such as Pizzicato, Gramophone, and Fanfare. An active member of the International Clarinet  Association, he has adjudicated competitions, performed at  ClarinetFest®, and served both as audio reviews editor for The Clarinet and as Delaware state chair. He was previously elected for two terms as secretary of the board of directors and is currently a member of the New Music Committee.

STATEMENT
The nomination to serve as president of ICA is the most humbling honor of my life. As an active member, I have adjudicated for the high school, research, young artist, and composition competitions, and have served the organization in a variety of other capacities. I am in awe of the opportunities and resources available to our membership. We are experiencing impressive, continued growth of engagement with a global commitment of time, talent, and energy. My previous experiences as  secretary and ongoing engagement with the organization have afforded me the opportunity to interact with our membership, the board of directors, and the staff of ICA. We work as a team to learn from each other, improve the organization, and cultivate an ICA that serves clarinetists around the globe from every walk of life. The ICA’s recent initiatives, particularly in targeted membership growth and the establishment of the Centennial Fund, are important to sustaining the ICA. If elected, I will lead our membership, board, and staff to support ICA’s future. Together, we will expand global membership, engagement, and involvement; promote philanthropic efforts to perpetuate the ICA for future generations of clarinetists; and ensure all ICA events are both safe and accessible.

EDDY VANOOSTHUYSE

Eddy Vanoosthuyse is the former principal clarinet of the Brussels Philharmonic and is clarinet professor at the Royal Conservatory  Ghent/Belgium and the Fontys Academy of the Arts  Tilburg/Netherlands. He has been a soloist with numerous orchestras including the Shanghai Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Simon Bolivar Orchestras, Brussels Philharmonic, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Pommerigi Musicali Milano, and the Zemlinsky, Beijing and Chili string quartets. He has recorded for Sony, EMI, Decca, Brilliant Classic, Antarctica, Aeon, Gobelin, Aliud, Etcetera, and Phaedra. He works with renowned composers of our day including Olivier Messiaen, Arturo Márquez, Oscar Navarro, Scott McAllister, Jan Van der Roost ,and Oscar winners Nicola Piovani, John Corigliano and Hans Zimmer. He was selected for the World Philharmonic (George Prêtre). An avid pedagogue, Vanoosthuyse has taught in five continents. In addition to his active artistic career, Vanoosthuyse is known as a passionate organizer of national and international projects; he is the artistic director of the International Clarinet Competition Ghent and was the artistic director of ClarinetFest® 2018 in Ostend, Belgium, and the 2023 European Clarinet Congress in Tilburg. He is the jury president of the International Arts Competition in Singapore. Vanoosthuyse is an ICA Honorary Member and currently serves as the ICA international vice president.

STATEMENT
I am honored to be a candidate for ICA president-elect. As the current  IVP, I have worked passionately to strengthen relations between many  countries and cultures, creating connections to successfully increase our membership. I believe that an essential mission of the ICA is to provide students of all levels, young and long-standing colleagues, orchestral players, soloists, professors, and clarinet enthusiasts, as many  opportunities as possible to flourish in today’s world where communication is becoming increasingly easy, and the artistic level is constantly developing. I would strive to bring the clarinet world closer and eliminate any barriers for those who wish to become a part of the organization. I would help grow the ICA through respecting the past and creating new projects for the future such as international  fundraising, ensuring fiscal success, and creating pedagogy and performance exchanges between performers, pedagogues, and students worldwide. I would be dedicated to working with the board and clarinet industry to listen to members’ current wants and desires. I believe that the ICA is an organization that is open to all who are passionate about the clarinet, with no limitations upon age, race, gender, or ethnicity. It would indeed be a privilege to serve as your next ICA president-elect.

INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

Please note: Marco Antonio Mazzini has withdrawn his candidacy for International Vice President.

LUCA SARACCA

Luca Saracca is professor of clarinet at the Conservatory of Music “Francesco Morlacchi” in Perugia (Italy), where he is also press agent  and director of communications. He has participated in numerous music festivals including Spoleto Festival of 2Worlds, Festival Pontino, Biennale in Venice, and Tribina Compositora of Beograd, and has concertized in Italy, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, France, Belgium, Istanbul (Turkey), and throughout the United States. Saracca performed clarinet and basset horn in the multiple prize-winning Namaste Clarinet Quartet (NCQ) including many concert
seasons in Italy and Europe and festivals including Umbria Jazz Festival and Umbria Jazz Winter. He has commissioned and recorded works of renowned composers on MPS England Recordings, Egea-Quadrivium (with the famous jazz soloist Gabriele Mirabassi), Castellano Records, EdiPan, Italian Television and Radio (RAI), and Vatican Radio. Luca Saracca is the creator and director of a “Music Appreciation Program” and leader/creator of the radio program “Blue Monday.” Saracca participated as a performer and lecturer at ClarinetFest® 2023, 2019, 2018, and 2013, and has published many articles and interviews in The Clarinet and L’Arte del Clarinetto. A long-standing member of the ICA, Saracca recently completed his term as coordinator of international relations.

STATEMENT
I am honored to be nominated for the international vice-president of the ICA. After having served five years as ICA chair of international relations (2018-2023) and as a founding member, together with Eddy Vanoosthuyse and Caroline Hartig, of the International Council, I am pleased that the work of the past five years has brought about a renewed interest in the internationalization of the ICA. An important aspect of this resurgence is the collaboration with the clarinet “sibling organizations” around the world. We also worked hard to fill the posts for national chairs, and with the addition of continent chairs, we can better track membership. I thank all the colleagues of the International Council and the members of the ICA board of directors who, during the years of my service as chair of international relations, supported my ideas and proposals for an increased international presence. The numbers from the recent ClarinetFest® 2023 (Denver 50th Anniversary) informed us that the international work of recent years has paid off. We trust that the return of ClarinetFest® to Europe (Dublin 2024) will confirm this growth trend. I would be honored to continue the important work of ICA internationalization as your next international vice president.

SECRETARY

MELISSA MORALES

Dr. Melissa Morales is the director of clarinet sales at Schmitt Music, performs with Mankato Symphony, and maintains a private studio in Minnesota. At Schmitt Music she is fortunate to utilize all facets of her musicianship. She can frequently be found assisting musicians of all levels refine their sound as they wade through the number of clarinet designs and assorted gear, visiting school programs to coach their clarinet sections, and leading industry talks on the scope of careers in music, and she recently initiated a clarinet choir for adult enthusiasts. Keenly organized, Dr. Morales was fortunate to serve as the first assistant editor for ClarinetFest® in 2014 and again in 2016, leading volunteer writers to cover over 100 events for next day reporting. Over the years she has performed with ensembles such as the Baltimore Orchestra, Annapolis Opera, Riverdale Chamber Music Society, DC Society of Arts and Letters, National Music Festival–Resonance Chamber Series, 10th Wave Collective, and served as a live-in artist in residence at Collington Continuing Care Retirement Community. She has held permanent positions with the Apollo Orchestra, Potomac Winds, and Chicago Summer Opera; was a founding member of Chicago Symphonic Winds; and served as adjunct music education faculty at DePaul University.

STATEMENT
I am honored and humbled to be the first industry professional nominated to serve on the ICA executive board as secretary. In my current role as director of clarinet sales, effective communication and organization are keys to success. Combined with my experience in administration, I believe these assets would serve the ICA well. I have planned and executed several clarinet workshops and festivals in our flagship store, served in operational roles for several clarinet conferences at institutions and ClarinetFest®, and am currently serving on the ICA’s DEIA and vendor subcommittees, roles that allow me to reach our global membership. I am so encouraged by the recent advancements within the ICA to support progressive initiatives and create multiple opportunities for members to claim active involvement in conjunction with their unique skill sets. Committees ranging from pre-professional and enthusiasts to new music groups, and everything in between, create more space for every member to foster meaningful, musical lives. My experiences outside of the conventional academic circles would further provide unique perspectives to further enrich the dialogue within executive leadership. If elected, I would commit myself to work collaboratively with all members to support the ICA’s continued growth and success at every level.

MATTHEW NELSON

Matthew Nelson is associate professor of clarinet at the University of Louisville, where he has taught since 2014. Prior to his appointment at the UofL, Nelson served on the faculty of Utah Valley University. He was a NOVA Chamber Music Series artist from 2011 to 2014, and Nelson’s frequent chamber music collaborations include performances at the Beyond the Music International Chamber Music Festival, the Schumann Festival, the Gentse Vleugels Festival, and the Park City International Music Festival, among others. Nelson is the former principal clarinet of the Utah Chamber Orchestra (Ballet West) and has performed with other orchestras throughout the United States and Spain. Nelson’s discography includes a 2023 album of clarinet works by Marc Satterwhite, all which Nelson commissioned and/or premiered. His 2019 Northern Fantasies release was featured on APM’s Performance Today, and Nelson’s debut solo CD, Meditations and Tributes, included the premiere recording of Kaija Saariaho’s Duft. He has recorded as a soloist or chamber musician for the Soundset, Centaur, Parma, and Albany labels. Nelson holds a DMA from Rice University, as well as an MM in clarinet performance and a BA with distinction in English from the University of Washington. He is a Buffet-Crampon and D’Addario Woodwinds Artist.

STATEMENT
It is truly an honor to have been nominated for secretary of the ICA’s  board of directors, and I welcome the prospect of serving the organization on an international scale. The ICA represents an invaluable intersection of innovation, history, practice, and fellowship in our field. I would bring administrative experience, networking and outreach, organization, and communication skills to the role of  secretary. I served as the woodwind area coordinator at both the University of Louisville and Utah Valley University, and I currently serve as a board member of the Chamber Music Society of Louisville. I have attended and presented at many ClarinetFests® dating back to 2004, and I have also contributed score reviews to The Clarinet since 2019. My degree in English has proved an asset through the years, as my strong record of successful funding through numerous grants and fellowships attests. I have coordinated exchanges with institutions abroad, most recently the CSMCLM in Albacete, Spain. Finally, I have taught and performed for diverse populations throughout the United States and the world, from Ulaanbaatar to Provo, Vigo, and Rostov. I look forward to ever more dialogue with new colleagues as the ICA continues to expand and diversify its membership.

TREASURER

KIP FRANKLIN

Kip Franklin is associate professor of clarinet at the University of South Alabama and has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States and Europe. He frequently performs with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and the Mobile Opera Orchestra. An advocate of new music, Dr. Franklin was a part of the consortium for David Maslanka’s Eternal Garden: Four Songs for Clarinet and Piano and his Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble. His debut solo album, Crossroads: Twenty-First Century Music for Clarinet, was released in 2018. He has presented and performed at the International Clarinet Association conventions in Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Colorado, and Ostend, Belgium. In addition to performing and teaching, Dr. Franklin served as an adjudicator for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, and the Alabama Bandmasters Association. As a guest clinician he has presented at the Midwest Clinic and the American Band College. His clarinet teachers include Caroline Hartig, Kennen White, Theodore Oien, and Guy Yehuda.

STATEMENT
I am honored by the nomination to continue serving as ICA treasurer. I am proud of the financial measures we have taken to consolidate expenses and of the fundraising efforts that have enhanced our general fund. I have helped steer the ICA’s efforts to become a more visible, transparent, and inclusive organization for all those who share a love of the instrument and have pride in what we’ve achieved thus far. As the organization’s treasurer, I will continue to steer the ICA in this positive direction, and will work to keep the ICA an attractive and affordable organization for everyone. The steps we’ve taken to move The Clarinet to an online journal, augmenting The Clarinet [Online] content, and increasing DEIA awareness in everything we do are positive achievements for our organization. I believe in seeking out ways to maximize profits and benefits while minimizing costs, without  jeopardizing quality of product. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the executive board in shaping the future of the ICA.