Originally published in The Clarinet 50/4 (September 2023).
Printed copies of The Clarinet are available for ICA members.
ICA Low Clarinet Festival 2023
This report from the Low Clarinet Festival in Glendale, Arizona, offers a look at the ICA’s inaugural festival for low clarinets.
by Stefanie Gardner
Approximately 275 alto, basset horn, bass, contra-alto and contrabass clarinetists from all over the globe gathered at the very first ICA Low Clarinet Festival January 5-8, 2023 at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. Artistic Director Stefanie Gardner was assisted by members of the Artistic Leadership Team: Jason Alder, Jeff Anderle, Lara Diaz, Mike Lowenstern, Marco Mazzini, Jon Russell, Stephan Vermeersch, and Sarah Watts, alongside the ICA board of directors and staff including ICA Executive Director Jessica Harrie and ICA intern Rongbing Shen. The theme of “Community” was evident throughout the festival—young and upcoming players and seasoned icons of the low clarinet world intermingled, both inspired by one another!
The 2023 Low Clarinet Festival program showcased performers of all levels and backgrounds, embraced diverse programming, and featured equal representation of women. Events took place one at a time and all performances, master classes, presentations, and clinics were well-attended! Most of the attendees and performers stayed until the very end of the festival and were sad to see the wonderful event come to an end. From beginning to end, the festival atmosphere was welcoming, celebratory, and warm—a long-awaited celebration of the low clarinet community.
Some events were streamed on the ICA Facebook page and later on the ICA YouTube page for anyone not in attendance to watch, including master classes and the opening artistic committee ensemble concert as well as the massive participant low choir (at least 100 members) led by Arizona State University Director of Bands, Jason Caslor. Maricopa Community Colleges awarded Stefanie the ReImagine Grant for the festival, funding artist travel through valuable outreach concerts in the Glendale area for approximately 1,000 middle and high school students. The grant also paid for six commissions for low clarinet ensembles, adding incredible new pieces to our ever-growing repertoire!
The Low Clarinet Festival would not have been possible without the brainstorming of the ICA New Music Committee members and the following exhibitors and generous sponsors: Alea Publishing, Buffet Crampon, Clark Fobes Clarinet & Saxophone Products, Conn Selmer/Henri Selmer Paris, Corbin Clarinet Products, JD Woodwinds, Lisa’s Clarinet Shop (Bruce Marking Repairs), Dr. Glenn Deibert, Glendale Community College, Lohff & Pfeiffer, North Country Winds, ReImagine Grant, Silverstein Works, Vandoren, and Walter Grabner’s Clarinet Xpress. This festival would also not have been possible without the countless hours of the GCC, ASU, and Northern Arizona University student and community volunteers. Many thanks to faculty, staff, and administration for hosting this event at Glendale Community College.
Words cannot describe how happy the attendees and performers were to gather for this historical event. Jon Russell said it best after the first day: “My cheeks are sore from smiling so much, and it is just the first day.” We are delighted to share a few of these incredible events in photos and social media posts reflecting the experience of the inaugural Low Clarinet Festival. Please share your favorite memories from the festival with us on Facebook and follow the ICA Low Clarinet Festival page.
The Low Clarinet Festival marked a new day in our history. Its success and enthusiastic reception ensures the Low Clarinet Festival will return biannually, so mark your calendars for January 2025!
Composition Competition Winners Awards Ceremony with ICA President Diane Barger
1st place: circuitbreaker for bass clarinet and marimba by Dalton Ringey $1000 prize (sponsored by Dr. Glenn Deibert) – world premiere performance by Transient Canvas (Amy Advocat and Matt Sharock)
2nd place: Fields of Neon for alto clarinet and piano by Tony Rodriguez
$500 prize (sponsored by the ReImagine Grant) – world premiere performance by Matthew Banks and Gail Novak
3rd place: To The Other Side for Bb clarinet and bass clarinet by Kristen Denny-Chambers $250 prize (sponsored by ReImagine Grant) – world premiere performance by Égide Duo (Joshua and Stefanie Gardner)
Stefanie Gardner, Artistic Director and Host and Joshua Gardner
Glendale Community College in sunny and warm Glendale, AZ
Participant Low Clarinet Choir conducted by Jason Caslor and guest vocalist Joshua Gardner
Sqwonk (Jeff Anderle and Jon Russell) performing Bass Clarinet Double Concerto by Jonathan Russell with the Improbable Beasts
The TAMUK Los Padres del Clarinete Bajos:
Leonardo Palma, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Kevin Perez, Danny Troncoso
Fie Schouten dedicating her performance of Schattenklänge by Mauricio Kagel to Harry Sparnaay
Bass Clarinet Association of Canada:
Mélanie Bourassa, Marie-Julie Chagnon, Charlotte Layec, Jenny Maclay, Ludovik Lesage-Hinse, Jack Lau
Jason Alder and Felipe Roldan at Simon’s Hot Dog Food Truck
Larkin Sanders enjoying a hotdog break
Jeremy Wohletz performing Rock Inspired Music for Bass Clarinet
Spatial Forces Duo (Christy Banks and Jessica Lindsey) performing Beasts by Jessica Lindsey
Sarah Watts and Kim Davenport performing Sorrow Songs by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Henry McNamara in masterclass with Mike Lowenstern
Scott Kurtzweil at the Selmer Booth
Stephan Vermeersch’s Serendipity with Stephan Vermeersch, Lara Diaz, Stefanie Gardner, and Jason Alder
Andy Rayborn performing works by Andy Rayborn
Maria Juliana Sivila performing her program “Argentina andina y diversa”
Citlalli Rosas and Gail Novak performing Sebastián Tozzola’s Paisaje Folklórico No.2
Steven Henry performing ASAP: A Sensor Augmented Performance
Lara Diaz and Gail Novak performing Suite Popular Espanola by Manuel de Falla trans. Lara Diaz
Gonzalo Quintero Florez and Gail Novak performing The Castle of Dr. Bassclar by Ferrer Ferran
Jenny Maclay and “Clarinets Against Humanity” at the Selmer Booth
Jason Alder performing Giraffatitan by Bret Newton
Artistic Committee Ensemble Opening Night Concert
The Joy of the Low Clarinet Festival
Embracing the Weird
The low clarinets are evolving with Marcus Stables contrabass extensions and Jared De Leon’s 3D printed bass clarinet
Steve Hanusofski with Josh and Stefanie Gardner performing Jody Rockmaker’s Bottom Dog
Artistic Committee Extended Techniques Masterclass
Marta Kania performing York Bowen Phantasy with the Glendale Community College Faculty String Quartet
Julia Lougheed performing From Darkness by Francisco Javier de Alba
Jack Liang performing Silhouettes by Roydon Tse
Low Clarinet Friends!
Alea Publishing and Recording Booth with Kim Davenport and Dalton Ringey
Mike Lowenstern performing his own works at the Friday night concert
Low Clarinet Choir Shenanigans with Elisabeth Stimpert and Larkin Sanders
The Glendale Community College Low Clarinet Choir “Team Lo-Blow” directed by Stefanie Gardner
The AMAZING GCC Volunteers taking a break
Desert Breath performing Amorphous Aggregate by Jessie Demaree
Miles DeCastro presenting on Low Clarinet Repairs
Coffee Break!
Tim Haas performing Flowers of St. Francis by Daniel Dorff
Alicia Lee performing “Advice from a Caterpillar” from Alice in Wonderland by Unsuk Chin
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band members Staff Sergeant Parker Gaims and Gunnery Sergeant Shannon Kiewitt performing 12 Duets KV 487 by W.A. Mozart on basset horns.
Elisabeth Stimpert and Alex Smith performing chaconne and chaser by Robert Pound
Jason Alder presenting on the History of the Contrabass Clarinet
Stephan Vermeersch’s D’Addario Reed Lecture and demonstration on acoustic improvements with the Blashaus Neck, Atelier Bulgheroni end pin & stopper, Micro-Support Allegroand JLV Phonic Ring
Tasha Warren and Gail Novak performing Dance Suite by Patrick Harlan
Égide Duo (Joshua and Stefanie Gardner) performing ambos by Gabriel José Bolaños Chamorro
A very happy Matthew Banks and Brian Corbin of Corbin Clarinet Products
Andy Hudson singing karaoke with University of North Carolina Greensboro bass clarinet ensemble at State Forty Eight Brewery
Chaos Incarné Trio (Adella Carlson, Julianna Pierdomenico, Taylor Stirm) after their performance of #YESALLWOMEN by Julianna Pierdomenico
Andy Hudson and the UNCG crew
Larkin Sanders performing her own Manic Pixie Dream
Jon Russell speaking about his composition Bullfrog’s Love Chant (unrequited) performed by Kimberly Fullerton and Gail Novak
Executive Director Jessica Harrie with ICA intern Rongbing Shen and composer/clarinetist Abdo Timejardine-Zomeño
The First ICA Low Clarinet Festival comes with its own warning sign!
Dr. Stefanie Harger Gardner is on the faculty at Glendale Community College (AZ) and maintains an active performance career, performing with Arizona Opera, the Phoenix Symphony, Red Rocks Chamber Music Festival, Seventh Roadrunner, the internationally recognized Paradise Winds, and grant-winning Égide Duo, whose mission is to commission, record, and perform music inspiring social change. Gardner has performed in concert with PitBull, Ceelo, Tony Orlando, Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, David and Katherine McPhee Foster, Jordin Sparks, Weird Al Yankovic, Hanson, The Who, and Jason Alexander. Gardner’s chamber music albums are recorded on the Soundset label and can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Gardner is a Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer Performing Artist playing Privilege clarinets, a Silverstein Pro Team Artist, and uses Selmer and Vandoren mouthpieces.
