Originally published in The Clarinet 52/3 (June 2025).
Copies of The Clarinet are available for ICA members.
ICA Low Clarinet Festival 2025 Report
The ICA Low Clarinet Festival in Glendale, Arizona, welcomed hundreds of participants in a celebration of bass clarinet and other low auxiliary instruments.
by Stefanie Gardner
The second ICA Low Clarinet Festival, held from January 8 to 11, 2025, at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona, brought together nearly 340 low clarinetists from across the globe. The festival celebrated alto, basset horn, bass, contra-alto, and contrabass clarinets, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among players of all levels. The festival was brought to life under the leadership of Artistic Director Stefanie Gardner and the Artistic Leadership Team, which included Amy Advocat, Jason Alder, Jeff Anderle, Matthew Banks, Lara Diaz, Josh Gardner, Andy Hudson, Mike Lowenstern, Jon Russell, Fie Schouten, Sebastian Tozzola, and Sarah Watts, and was made possible with the support of ICA Executive Director Jessica Harrie, ICA intern Sofia Plawchan, and the ICA board.
The theme of the festival, Forward Together, was evident as both emerging talents and seasoned experts shared the stage and inspired one another. The program offered a wide range of performances, master classes, presentations, and clinics, demonstrating strong representation of diversity in the field. Attendees were captivated by performances throughout the festival, with many staying until the final moments, reflecting on what had been an unforgettable experience. The welcoming atmosphere created a rewarding environment for both artists and attendees, all of whom came together to celebrate the low clarinet community.
The festival included streamed performances on the ICA Facebook page, and many performances will later be archived on the ICA YouTube channel, allowing those who could not attend in person to view performance classes, the opening artistic committee ensemble concert, evening concerts, and a mass low clarinet choir (comprising at least 150 participants) led by Jason Caslor, director of bands at Arizona State University.
Generous funding from the City of Glendale and the Arizona Commission on the Arts supported both artist travel and community concerts for approximately 1,000 middle and high school students in the Glendale area and commissions for low clarinet ensembles, expanding the ever-growing repertoire with new works for low clarinet choir. The Low Clarinet Festival would not have been possible without the following exhibitors and generous sponsors: Alea Publishing, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Backun Musical Services, Buffet Crampon, Chedeville Mouthpieces, City of Glendale, Clark Fobes Clarinet & Saxophone Products, CLARINET WORLD, Conn Selmer/Henri Selmer Paris, Corbin Clarinet Products, Dr. Glenn Deibert, Earspasm, Gardner Clarinets, Gleichweit Mouthpieces and Barrels, Glendale Community College, Lenny B Good Clarinets, Lohff & Pfeiffer, David Melkin, Milano Music, North Country Winds, Dr. Ryan and Ryan Odgers, Royal Global, and Mary Youhanaie.
Special thanks to the volunteers from Glendale Community College, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, and Phoenix community members. Their tireless efforts ensured the smooth running of the event, and we are deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, and administration at Glendale Community College for hosting the festival.
In addition to performances and clinics, the festival introduced the inaugural Harry Sparnaay Scholarship and two exciting competitions: the High School Solo Low Clarinet Competition and the Enthusiast Solo Low Clarinet Competition (for those 19 and older).
2025 HIGH SCHOOL SOLO LOW CLARINET COMPETITION WINNERS:
- 1st Place: Ezennia Adibe
- 2nd Place: Jay Berry
- 3rd Place: Sarah Beard
The 2025 High School Competition is sponsored by Gardner Clarinets. Final round judges were Kristen Denny-Chambers, Lara Diaz, and Joshua Gardner.
2025 ENTHUSIAST SOLO LOW CLARINET COMPETITION WINNERS:
- 1st Place: James Aldous
- 2nd Place: Tommy Shermulis
- 3rd Place: Ana Lilia Rodríguez
The 2025 Enthusiasts Competition is sponsored by Dr. Ryan and Ryan Odgers. Final round judges were Jason Alder, Jeff Anderle, and Fie Schouten.
2025 HARRY SPARNAAY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT:
- Juliana Sivila
2025 COMPOSITION COMPETITION WINNERS:
- 1st Place: Elusive Cow for clarinet and bass clarinet by Wenbin Lyu (performed by Égide Duo: Joshua and Stefanie Gardner)
- 2nd Place: Seeing You for two bass clarinets by Ingah Chinilina (performed by Jason Alder and Amy Advocat)
- 3rd Place: Interrupted Slumber for viola and bass clarinet by Sean Penzo (performed by Fie Schouten and Foxman James)
The 2025 Composition Competition was sponsored by Dr. Glenn Deibert, David Melkin, and Mary Youhanaie.
The festival also offered unforgettable social events, with informal gatherings including bass clarinet karaoke hosted by Andy Hudson and bands featuring bass clarinet performed at The Easy Tiger bar: The Big Fat Meanies (Rick Ferrarelli) and JFUNK (Jessie Damaree). Food trucks provided attendees with quick bites between events.
The overwhelming enthusiasm surrounding the 2025 Low Clarinet Festival promises that the event will return biennially. Mark your calendars for January 2027! If you have memories to share, please post and tag the ICA Low Clarinet Festival page on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Follow the ICA social media pages for the ICA 2027 Low Clarinet Festival location!
You Are the Universe in Ecstatic Motion by Jon Russell, performed by the Artistic Leadership Team Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Jason Caslor: Amy Advocat, Jon Russell, Sarah Watts, Fie Schouten, Michael Lowenstern, Jason Alder, Jeff Anderle, Andy Hudson, Lara Diaz, Matthew Banks, Stefanie Gardner, and Josh Gardner
Ezennia Adibe (first place winner of the High School Competition) with Artistic Director Stefanie Gardner and ICA President Cathy Wood
Left to Right: Artistic Director Stefanie Gardner and Enthusiasts Competition Winners James Aldous, Tommy Shermulis, and Ana Lilia Rodríguez with ICA President Cathy Wood
Harry Sparnaay Scholarship Recipient Juliana Sivila with Artistic Director Stefanie Gardner and ICA President Cathy Wood
Bass Clarinet Karaoke with Andy Hudson and friends at Chicken N Pickle
The debut of Baffle: Jonathan Russell, Jeff Anderle, and Michael Lowenstern
Sarah Watts playing Counterweight by Ailís Ní Ríain
Winning works of the Composition Competition: First Place: Elusive Cow for clarinet and bass clarinet by Wenbin Lyu, performed by Égide Duo: Joshua and Stefanie Gardner
Winning works of the Composition Competition: Second Place: Seeing You for two bass clarinets by Ingah Chinilina, performed by Jason Alder and Amy Advocat
Winning works of the Composition Competition: Third Place: Interrupted
Slumber for viola and bass clarinet by Sean Penzo, performed by Fie Schouten and Foxman James
Low Clarinet Festival Opening Concert featuring Dominique Holley
Stefanie and Josh Gardner performing at the first evening concert
Antonio Rosales performing for Glendale High School
Chaos Incarné Trio (Adella Carlson, Julianna Pierdomenico, Taylor Stirm) performing for Cactus High School
Citlalli Rosas performing for Desert Valley High School
Fie Schouten performing for Moon Valley High School
Four Low Pitches (Julia Heinen, Melissa Morales, Stacie Traill, and Colleen White) performing for Washington High School
Exhibit Hall
Matthew Banks performing with David Paonessa (piano), Vincent Thiefain (bass), and Nick MacGregor (drums)
Matthew Banks Performing
Jason Alder Performance Class
Synergy by Brian Nabors, performed by Stefanie Gardner, Josh Gardner, Steve Hanusofski, and Jeff Anderle
September by Earth, Wind & Fire, arr. Michael Lowenstern, performed by the Artistic Leadership Team Ensemble: Michael Lowenstern, Andy Hudson, Jon Russell, Matthew Banks, Sarah Watts, Fie Schouten, and Jeff Anderle
Simple Lines by Bill Ryan, performed by the Artistic Leadership Team Ensemble conducted by Dr. Jason Caslor: Stefanie Gardner, Fie Schouten, Andy Hudson, Josh Gardner, Lara Diaz, Jason Alder, Matthew Banks, and Jon Russell
Better Get it In Your Soul by Charles Mingus, arr. Matthew Banks, performed by the Artistic Leadership Team Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Jason Caslor: Fie Schouten, Matthew Banks, Michael Lowenstern, Amy Advocat, Stefanie Gardner, Jeff Anderle, Jason Alder, and Sarah Watts
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, arr. Florence Price, transcribed by Sarah Watts, performed by Sarah Watts, Jon Russell, Amy Advocat, Lara Diaz, and Jason Alder, conducted by Jason Caslor
Andy Hudson and Michael Lowenstern performing Bill Ryan’s Dig Deep
Josh Gardner, Stefanie Gardner, and Jason Alder at the hot dog truck
Olivia Meadows and Stephen White perform Muni-muni by Francisco Javier de Alba
Artistic Leadership Team Panel: Audition Preparation and Performance Anxiety (Left to Right: Lara Diaz, Sarah Watts, Stefanie Gardner, Matthew Banks)
Sarah Manasreh-Decker performing
GCC Team Lo-Blow
Sarah Watts and Kim Davenport (piano) performing
Elisabeth Stimpert and Doug Nottingham performing Double Music by Barry Moon and alejandro t. acierto
Jeff Anderle performing Symphony of Songs
Delicious Bass Ensemble
Improbable Beasts
Antonio Rosales and Gail Novak (piano) performing
Brian Corbin and Christine Hoerning
Farewell to Clark Fobes
Jason Alder, Jeremy Wohletz, and Gail Novak (piano) performing Lindsey Wiehl’s Beyond Winter
Morii Duo (Lindsey Hutchinson and Richard Ferrarelli)
Antonio Rosales at Glendale High School
Mother Underneath for low clarinet quintet by Cornelius Boots (Left to Right: Cornelius Boots, Jeff Anderle, Stephen White, Alanna Benoit, Julia Lougheed, Kimberly Fullerton)
E-flat Octocontra-alto clarinet designed by Jared De Leon
Transient Canvas (Amy Advocat and Matt Sharrock)
Égide Duo (Josh and Stefanie Gardner) performs AC/DC’s Thunderstruck
Fie Schouten Performance Class
Yanke Dai performing Qiang by Moxuan Li
Canadian Bass Clarinet Association
Empanadas
Andy Hudson Singing Radiohead’s Creep, arr. Cornelius Boots
Égide Duo with Composer Marc Mellits
The Big Fat Meanies at The Easy Tiger with Rick Ferrarelli
GCC Volunteers Taking a Break
Sarah Lucas-Page, Jessica Harrie, and Cathy Wood
Day of Screaming by Alex Temple performed by Jeff Anderle, Stefanie Gardner, and Josh Gardner
Cesar Palacio and Stefanie Gardner Performing Mozart Basset Horn Duets
Fie Schouten performing Ludensic by Tobias Klein
Lara Diaz and Gail Novak (piano) performing Tres Canciones Españolas by Antón García Abril, transcribed by Lara Díaz
Contra Section of the All Participant Low Clarinet Choir
Basset Horn Section of the All Participant Low Clarinet Choir
Andrea Vos-Rochefort presenting “Unmasking Berio Sequenza IXa, IXb, and IXc through Cathy Berberian’s Ghost”
TAMUK Crew with Cornelius Boots
Lucas Gianini and Tyler Mazone performing (Mis)Understood by Tyler Mazone
Julia Lougheed performing Sassy as Hell by Dalton H. Regnier
Dark Harmony Duo (Sarah Lucas-Page and Johnny Engelke)
Miles DeCastro Sampling the Official Mustard of the ICA Low Clarinet Festival from the North Country Winds Booth
Égide Duo (Josh and Stefanie Gardner) Premiere of Marc Mellits’s Wide Load
Josh Gardner and Jason Alder
All Participant Low Clarinet Choir
Dr. Stefanie Gardner is music program director at Glendale Community College (Arizona) and actively performs with Arizona Musicfest Pops Orchestra, Arizona Opera, Phoenix Chamber Music Society, Phoenix Symphony, Paradise Winds, and Égide Duo. Stefanie was named in the Top 30 Professionals by Musical America in 2023 and is a 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator quarter finalist. She has performed in concert with Jason Alexander, Andrea Bocelli, PitBull, Ceelo, Tony Orlando, Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, David and Katherine McPhee Foster, Jordin Sparks, Weird Al Yankovic, Hanson, and The Who. Her albums can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. She is an artist for Henri Selmer Paris/Conn Selmer, Gleichweit Mouthpieces, and Silverstein Works.
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