concert

Clareidoscope 2023: Student Performances

Student Recital
March 18, 2023 at 12:30 PM EDT

Fire and Ice (2010)
Theresa Martin (b. 1979)

Rachel Corwin and Max Bruner, clarinet

like a broken record
Dalton H. Regnier (b. 1992)

Dalton H. Regnier, bass clarinet

Duft
Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952)
I. Blütenstaub
II. Blühend
III. Flüchtig

Charlotte MacDonald, clarinet

Sonata for Two Clarinets
Michele Mangani (b. 1966)
II. Andante cantabile
III. Allegro

Venn Duo
Alexandra Chea and Hannah Weller, clarinet

 


Biographies and Narratives

Rachel Corwin and Max Bruner
Rachel Corwin is currently pursuing a double major in clarinet performance and music education at
Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) in Fort Wayne, Indiana as a student of Dr. Kylie Stultz. She is a
Kindermusik and clarinet instructor at Joyful Creations Studio in New Haven, IN. During her time at PFW
she has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Kokomo Park Band concerto competition,
the PFW concerto competition, and the prestigious PFW Top 50 award. Maximus Bruner is a clarinet
performance major in his second year at PFW. He is member of the PFW Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.

“When selecting a piece for performance at the Clareidoscope Virtual Conference, I knew
I wanted to choose music that would promote female and diverse composers in the
clarinet community. “Fire and Ice” by Theresa Martin showcases the brilliance of a current
icon in contemporary clarinet literature. This work is colorful, rhymically-centered, and
full of twists and turns that emphasize the virtuosity and flexibility of the clarinet. Her use
of complex meters, energetic rhythms, and an expansive sound palette provides a unique
soundscape for the listener. Along with pushing the boundaries of tonality, Theresa
Martin also provides a welcome challenge to those who study and perform her music.
This duet has provided us with the opportunity to experience and stretch our abilities as
clarinet players by improving our technique and further developing our listening and
collaboration skills. This performance opportunity will also allow us to highlight the music
of Theresa Martin to people new to her compositions.”

Dalton H. Regnier
Dalton H. Regnier (aka Dalton Ringey) is a clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and composer based in Gainesville,
FL. He will be receiving his PhD in Music Composition with a cognate in Clarinet Performance from
University of Florida, where he studies composition with Scott Lee and clarinet with Mitchell Estrin His
dissertation discusses compositional use of contemporary techniques for the clarinet and bass clarinet.
As a bass clarinetist, he has performed with Gainesville Orchestra and the National Music Festival.
Previous clarinet teachers include Thomas Parchman (University of Southern Maine) and Christopher
Nichol (University of Delaware).

“I am proposing to perform my own composition “like a brock record” for unaccompanied
bass clarinet, which I wrote in 2022. This is a very personal composition as it merges my
love of vinyl records with an instrument that has bee a core part of my musical identity
since I was in the seventh grade. I wrote the piece in connection with my dissertation
research, which examines compositional use of contemporary techniques for the clarinet
and bass clarinet so composers can have a better understanding of situations in which a
contemporary technique may be useful. This performance is important to the clarinet
community as this piece is an excellent showcase of how contemporary techniques can
change a piece of music. It also shows that contemporary techniques can be used in
pieces that are accessible to a wide range of audiences. I believe that a piece like this can
encourage students to learn contemporary techniques and expand upon their clarinet playing.

These techniques are often thought of as unnecessary for collegiate level players
and are only taught if the player has the desire to learn them or if they come across a
piece of music that requires it. I hope that with pieces like “like a broken record” more
clarinetists and bass clarinetists are encouraged to explore contemporary techniques as
an essential part of clarinet study.”

Charlotte MacDonald
Charlotte MacDonald is a clarinetist and teacher located in Denton, Texas. She maintains an active
private clarinet studio in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, working with students of a variety of ages and
levels. As a passionate supporter of new and contemporary music, she is a performer with Nova
ensemble and has performed in multiple premieres of new works. She is currently pursuing a Master of
Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of North Texas, where she studies with Kimberly Cole
Luevano. She completed her undergraduate studies at Florida State University, where she studied with
Deborah Bish and Jonathan Holden.

“Kaija Saariaho is one of the most prominent composers of our time and is internationally
recognized for her contributions to contemporary classical music. Her compositional
achievements are remarkable in their own right, but are even more notable as she is a
woman, a historically underrepresented group in composition. Clarinetists are fortunate
to have multiple solo works written by Saariaho; however, despite her prominence, her
clarinet works are relatively unacknowledged and infrequently performed. Duft in
particular is notable for its nuanced showcase of the clarinet, masterfully incorporating
shifting timbre and the effects created by extended techniques into its lyrical melodic
lines. Its expressive character and melodic treatment of extended techniques render it
more accessible to performers and listeners than many other contemporary
unaccompanied clarinet works, making it an exceptionally valuable contribution to our
repertoire. Through my performance at Clareidoscope, I hope to introduce Duft to a wider
audience and to encourage my colleagues to explore Saariaho and her clarinet
compositions further.”

Venn Duo – Alexandra Chea and Hannah Weller
Clarinetists Alexandra Chea and Hannah Weller first met at Messiah University. Alexandra is pursuing
her Doctorate of Musical Arts at Arizona State University while Hannah is pursuing her Master of Music
at the University of North Texas. After collaborating via social media, the two decided to form Venn
Duo. Through their performances and collaborations, Venn Duo aims to expand the body of literature
for the clarinet, which includes the work of underrepresented and upcoming artists.

“As Venn Duo, we believe our performance of Michele Mangani’s Sonata for Two Clarinets
demonstrates our commitment to creativity and collaboration; values which enable the
Clarinet Community to large to thrive. When the COVID pandemic hit, we were deeply
saddened, having no idea when we might ever be able to perform together again. In an
instant, we were forced into isolation and had to adapt in order to keep playing together,
changing everything we knew about the nature of collaboration. Learning to collaborate
with the obstacle of distance was how Venn Duo was born is largely how we continue to
create today. However, as a hybrid duo, collaborating both in person and virtually, we
recognize the advantages of both mediums and are grateful to have the skills and
knowledge to create regardless of our current environment. This particular performance
is one we prepared for remotely. Amidst preparations for our Low ICA ClarinetFest
performance, we prioritized rehearsing and recording this work together in person, and
leaned on our creativity and commitment to high quality collaboration to make the
performance a success. We recognize our responsibility as the next generation of leaders
and creative minds in the clarinet community, and we submit this proposal as proof of
our commitment to seeing that community continue to thrive through continued
creativity, and constant collaboration.”

Program PDF

When: 03/18/2023 | 12:30 pm

Featuring: Rachel Corwin and Max Bruner, clarinet; Dalton H. Regnier, bass clarinet; Charlotte MacDonald, clarinet; Venn Duo - Alexandra Chea and Hannah Weller, clarinet

Join concert Here

Back
X