Clarinetist and Teacher William E. Powell Has Passed Away
The ICA is saddened to learn of the passing of William E. Powell. A tribute will appear in a future issue of The Clarinet.William E. Powell (1946-2024), received the Artist’s Diploma in Clarinet Performance from the Juilliard School in New York City where he studied with Stanley Drucker, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. After additional studies in New York with Leon Russianoff, he moved to California to study with the principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Michele Zukovsky, at the California Institute of the Arts where he received the M.F.A. in Performance in 1979. After graduation from CalArts, Mr. Powell served on the faculties of the University of California, San Diego; San Diego State University; California State University, Long Beach; and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before joining the CalArts faculty in 1985 as Director of the Performance Program.
In 1993, Bill relocated to India on a Senior Research Grant from the Fulbright Commission and went on to present concerts of American music throughout the subcontinent. He premiered more than 200 compositions in major concert venues throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Bill served as Co-Artistic Director for the 2011 ClarinetFest held in Los Angeles and was the vision behind the opening concert featuring South Indian clarinetist A.K.C. Natarajan and North Indian clarinetist Narasimhalu Wadavati, which was the first and only time that clarinetists from these two divergent cultures shared a stage.
Bill will be greatly missed by the thousands of students and clarinetists friends around the world.
I was terribly saddened to hear that Bill Powell has passed away. He was a treasured friend and colleague and I was honored and privileged to play for him in many concerts featuring new music as well as works for chamber ensemble and traditional repertoire for clarinet.
I will always remember him as a brilliant musician and extraordinary teacher who inspired his students with a standard of excellence in their work.
We had many wonderful conversations about music and life along with the challenge of making art in a constantly changing global environment.
He will be greatly missed. Rest in power, dear friend.
May he rest in peace. A good friend
Love you Uncle Billy!