Originally published in The Clarinet 53/2 (March 2026).

Copies of The Clarinet are available for ICA members.

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CLARINETFEST® 2026:

A Historic Celebration in Incheon, South Korea

The International Clarinet Association is thrilled to announce ClarinetFest® 2026, taking place July 7–11 in Incheon, South Korea. This marks the first-ever ClarinetFest® held in Korea, and only the second to be held in Asia. Set in the innovative Songdo International City, this festival promises a week of extraordinary performances, engaging educational activities, and opportunities for clarinetists from across the globe to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the instrument in all its diversity.

The Artistic Leadership Team for ClarinetFest® 2026 includes Artistic Director Wonkak Kim (USA), along with Jerry Chae, Kyungsun Lee, Youngdae Yoo (Korea), Ti Huang, Pei-Yun Lin, Suling Tseng (Taiwan), Brooks Nobuo Thon, Pei-Lun Tsai (Japan), Xiangyu Zhou, and Sun Zhen (China). Together, they have curated a festival that emphasizes contemporary creativity, intercultural dialogue, and global exchange—values reflected throughout the week’s programming.

The festival opens on Tuesday evening, July 7, with a Gala Concert at the Incheon Art Center Concert Hall. The Hankyung Arte Philharmonic Orchestra joins headliner soloists Jerry Chae (Korea), Annelien van Wauwe (Belgium), Christelle Pochet (France), Vitor Fernandez (Portugal), and the renowned Klezmer soloist David Krakauer (USA) for an evening of extraordinary music. Two prodigy clarinetists and sisters, Se-Yeon and Do-Yeong Lee, both previous winners of the ICA High School Competitions, will also showcase the next generation of clarinet virtuosity. This opening gala sets a bold tone for the week, celebrating the rich tradition and evolving possibilities of the instrument.

On Wednesday, July 8, the festival launches the Clarinet Ensemble Series, led by the renowned Seoul Clarinet Ensemble under the direction of Jungmin Song and Hyongon Kim. This ensemble opens the series with a concert showcasing Korea’s vibrant clarinet community and the global breadth of the festival, with performances by amateur and professional groups from dozens of countries around the world. The Evening Headliner Concert features the festival’s jazz highlights, with Japanese jazz icon Eiji Taniguchi, the crossover sensation Ko-Ko-Ya (Japan), and Oriol Marés (Spain) of the Tala Fayad Quartet for an evening of improvisation and cross-cultural collaboration.

Thursday, July 9, begins with a headliner performance by the Seoul National University Traditional Korean Ensemble under the direction of Eun-Ah Noh, reflecting the festival’s commitment to intercultural exchange. In the evening, the ClarinetFest® stage will host soloists and chamber artists including Yoonah Kim (USA/Korea), Rocco Parisi (Italy) with the premiere of Michele Mangani’s new quintet, István Kohán (Japan/Hungary), and Joë Christophe (France), presenting an array of repertoire that spans classical, contemporary, and international styles.

The Friday Afternoon Headliner Concert features the Clarinet Through the Ages, highlighting the versatility and expressive power of the instrument across genres and cultures. Rodolfo La Banca will perform with a soprano in works from Italy, Sue Newsome will present a guitar duo from Australia, and Carmen Borregoles will explore Venezuelan clarinet etudes, while UNICH Clarinet Ensemble from Thailand and Hyon Suk Kim (Canada/Korea) will showcase works integrating electronic media and global musical traditions. The evening continues with the Clarinet Ensemble Series, featuring innovative groups such as the Kaguya and Amadea Basset Horn trios from Japan, the Bass Clarinet Association of Canada, and Taiwan’s premiere Magic Clarinet Quartet, illustrating the diversity and reach of clarinet ensemble artistry worldwide.

The final day of ClarinetFest® 2026 opens with a Guinness World Record attempt, assembling clarinetists from the festival’s ensembles and individual participants in a mass performance celebrating the global clarinet community. We are hoping to gather a performing group of more than 500 clarinetists, and cordially invite all participants to join us to set this meaningful record. The closing concert culminates with Clarinet Solos with Wind Ensemble, performed by the Republic of Korea Navy Band and distinguished soloists including Javier Llopis (Spain), Hosup Song (Korea), Soo-Young Lee (Estonia/Korea), Benjamin and Sai Sai Lulich (USA and China), and Jose Franch-Ballester (Canada/Spain).

Throughout the week, the Clarinet Ensemble Series will feature ensembles representing the depth and variety of clarinet performance around the world: from Korea’s largest amateur clarinet club, JoyClarinet, to the high school ensemble SPIM from Thailand, to China’s CLH Ensemble and professional chamber groups from Italy, including the Italian Clarinet Consort. The series illustrates the instrument’s global reach and its ability to connect communities, both educational and professional. Clarisma (Hong Kong), a chamber ensemble dedicated to fusing traditional and contemporary works, and Traumerei (USA), which nurtures young clarinetists in New York and New Jersey, further underscore the festival’s commitment to pedagogy, innovation, and international collaboration.

In addition to performances, ClarinetFest® 2026 offers master classes, clinics, workshops, and lecture-recitals across genres and styles. Students and professionals alike will have opportunities to engage with headliner artists, explore repertoire from across the globe, and participate in a vibrant community that reflects the ICA’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The exhibition hall at Songdo ConvensiA will showcase instruments, accessories, and technology for clarinetists of all levels, providing both a marketplace and a hub for interaction with industry leaders and innovators.

With Incheon’s modern architecture, cultural richness, and convenient location near Incheon International Airport, participants can also enjoy guided excursions to experience Korean heritage, cuisine, and natural landscapes, adding a cultural dimension to their festival experience. Please visit the ICA’s website for information regarding Incheon Area, Seoul, and DMZ tour packages.

ClarinetFest® 2026 promises an unforgettable celebration of the instrument, its performers, and its global community. Whether attending for performances, educational activities, or the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, participants can expect a festival that is as ambitious in scope as it is rich in artistic experience. We look forward to welcoming clarinetists from every corner of the globe to Incheon this July.

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CLARINETFEST® 2026 ARTIST ROSTER
(Subject To Change)

HEADLINING ARTIST PERFORMERS

Carmen Borregoles

Jerry Jae-il Chae

Joë Christophe

Vitor Fernandez

Jose Franch-Ballester

Kaguya Basset Horn Trio

Hyon Suk Kim

Yoonah Kim

István Kohán

Ko-Ko-Ya

David Krakauer

Do-Young Lee

Se-Yeon Lee

Soo-Young Lee

Javier Llopis

Benjamin Lulich

Sai Sai Lulich

Magic Clarinet Quartet

Oriol Mares

Sue Newsome and the Creole Encounters

Rocco Parisi

Penta-CLAM

Christelle Pochet

Rodolfo La Banca

Seoul Clarinet Ensemble (Jung-Min Song and Hyungon Kim, directors)

Eiji Taniguchi

UNICH Clarinet Ensemble (Jetdilok Oumasa, director)

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ARTIST LIST

Francisco Javier de Alba

Jason Alder

Jeff Anderle

Herson Amorim

Joao Araujo

Michael Bartnik

Jean-Guy Boisvert

Barbara Borowicz

Jeffrey Brooks

Nicole Canham

Asher Carlson

Vic Chavez

Seungho Choi

Jiyeon Choi

Hwan Gyu Cho

Jong-Hyun Andy Cho

In-Hyuk Cho

John Cipolla

David Cook

Philippe Cuper

Agnieszka Dabrowska-Kras

Lara Díaz

Tanyawat Dilokkunanant

Kristof Domotor

Mary Druhan

Gloria Orozco Dorado

Blerim Emerllahu

Calvin Falwell

Kip Franklin

Agustina Gabaglio

Joshua Gardner

Peter Geldrich

George Gergiou

Beverly Gibson

Jose Gomez

Angelina-Oniana Gotcheva

Rochelle Gracilla

Laura Grantier

Jonathan Guist

Amy Guffey

Javier Vinasco Guzman

Caroline Hartig

Cosmin Harsian

Maureen Hurd Hause

Julia Heinen

Steven Henry

Bu-Chin Huang

Scot Humes

Kyusang Jeong

Cecilia Kang

Sangyoon Kim

Taejeon Kim

Wonkak Kim

Melissa Kindy

Dominic Koh

Paul Kopetz

David Kwek

Hyeokwoo Kweon

Maryanne Lacaille

Eugene Lai

Guiseppe Lentini

Chin Lun Leung

Chih-Chien Lin

Zhu-Yuan Luo

Christine MacDonnell

Jenny Maclay

Sarah Manasreh-Decker

Jackie McIlwain

Hidemi Mikai

Osiris Molina

Melissa Morales

Matthew Nelson

Christopher Nichols

Pat O’Keefe

Orit Orbach

Michael Paar

Francesca Peck

Paolo Pellegrini

Lara Dia Perez

Thomas Piercy

Richard Rourke

Michael Rowlett

Jhoser Salazar

Go Seungwan

Eric Shultz

Sunshine Simmons

Justin Stanley

Jana Starling

Carl-Johan Stjernstrom

Nadia Sofokleous

Jeongmin Song

Gi-Hyun Sunwoo

Wataru Takahashi

Wantana Tancharoenpol

Vanguel Tangarov

Nick Thompson

Brooks Thon

Brendan Toohey

Pei-Lun Tsai

Ian Tyson

Fevzi Onur Ustabas

Eddy Vanoosthuyse

Stephan Vermeersch

Raquel Villarreal

Piero Vincenti

Elieen Walsh

Catherine Wood

Guy Yehuda

Chen Yi

Jun Yun

Jonatas Zacarias

Xiangyu Zhou

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CLARINET ENSEMBLES

Aichi University Clarinet Ensemble (Japan)

Alla Rossi Quartet (Argentina)

Buddy Clarinet Ensemble (Taiwan)

Clarisma Ensemble (Hong Kong)

CLARQuintet (Singapore)

The Clh Clarinet Ensemble (China)

Coastal Carolina University Clarinet Ensemble (USA)

The C. U. Clarinet Ensemble (Thailand)

Ensemble Clarinuts (International)

The Fabulous Four Clarinet Quartet (International)

Heyseed Clarinet Ensemble (Taiwan)

Italian Clarinet Consort (Italy)

Jeju Clarinet Choir (South Korea)

JoyClarinet (South Korea)

Klarisma Quartet (Germany)

Latin Voices Trio (International)

Luxembourg Clarinet Ensemble (Luxembourg)

PhilClarinets Ensemble (Singapore)

The Portiguar Clarinet Orchestra (Brazil)

Royal Australian Air Force Band Quartet (Australia)

The SAF Band Quartet (Singapore)

The SPIM Clarinet Ensemble (Thailand)

Team Selmer Clarinet Ensemble (South Korea)

Tekoha Clarinet Quintet (Brazil)

Traumerei Clarinet Ensemble (USA)

Trio Dépaysement (International)

TRIO “Different Cultures” (International)

Trio Downunder (Australia)

University of South Florida Clarinet Ensemble (USA)

University of Utah Clarinet Ensemble (USA)

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