BuzzReed is an exciting new space for sharing information about the clarinet: pedagogy, equipment, culture, literature, and history in a format designed with younger clarinetists and non-professionals in mind. We are one community, which includes not only professional orchestral, recording, and university level artists, but also students at all levels, doublers, community free- lancers, and enthusiasts. Through regular blog entries in www.clarinet.org and a new column in The Clarinet journal, this initiative will foster lively discussions about all things clarinet and provide information that will be both fun and educational for everyone in this diverse community. It will feed your obsession for the clarinet and keep you coming back for more – BuzzReed: Connecting the Clarinet Community!
Your guides into the BuzzReed world are Spencer Prewitt, Eric Salazar, and Kristine Nichols.
Spencer Prewitt, BuzzReed committee chair, is currently instructor of clarinet at the Flint Institute of Music in Michigan and instructor of clarinet at Saginaw Valley State University. He earned his DMA from Bowling Green State University and is an active orchestral musician in the region. Spencer is the second and acting principal clarinetist with the Lima Ohio Symphony and regularly performs with the symphonies in Toledo, Fort Wayne, Ann Arbor, Flint, and Lansing. He was also the principal clarinet and mentor with the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra and for six seasons was the principal clarinet of the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra and recorded 11 CDs with the company (Albany label). As a chamber musician he has won a silver medal in the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition in Boston with the PVC and with The Fawn Trio won a judges recognition prize in the Plowman Chamber Music Competition and was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. When not practicing, Spencer enjoys running road races from 5k to the marathon. www.spencerprewitt.com
Eric Salazar, BuzzReed graphic artist/committee member and: a super-human clarinet hero (Big Car, 2015). Salazar has a B.M. in Clarinet Performance from Ball State University and an M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Bowling Green State University. He has performed solo and chamber recitals in 8 states of the US and overseas in Belgium. Salazar resides in the Indianapolis area. Here, Salazar teaches a sizable clarinet studio, performs, and composes. Eric will be releasing an album with the New Ovation Music label this spring. The album, Soul Search, consists exclusively of Salazar’s original compositions for solo clarinet and electronics. His other professional interests include: conducting, pedagogy, music psychology, marketing, and project management.
‘La energia de Eric es contagiosa y su talento a la hora de tocar su clarinete es impresionante…’
‘Eric’s energy is contagious and his talent for playing his clarinet is impressive…’
-Karla Romero, Editor-in-Chief of Eñe Monthly Magazine
www.ericsalazarclarinet.com
Kristine Nichols, BuzzReed committee member, has a B.M. in Clarinet Performance from University of North Texas, and is principal clarinet in the Corona Symphony, and second clarinet in the Dana Point Symphony. In 2015, Kristine and her clarinetist husband Zachary were honored to be recognized by the City of Westminster in celebrating ten years of performances with the Vietnamese American Philharmonic. Kristine and Zachary are two of the founding members of the OC Clarinet Consort, which has performed in several Southern California venues as well as the 2013 ICA ClarinetFest in Assisi, Italy. In 2015, the OC Clarinet Consort began an exciting affiliation with the Cal State Fullerton Clarinet Club to mentor with these students, and provide side by side performing opportunities at local area schools with the goal of illustrating the playing opportunities that exist beyond the high school years. Kristine is honored to be performing with OC Clarinet Consort at ICA ClarinetFest in Lawrence, Kansas. In her other life, she is the customer service manager for Nelco Products, Inc., a manufacturer of circuit board substrates.
Stay tuned for more from BuzzReed!
