Remembering Guido Six (1955-2015)

The I.C.A. Board of Directors and membership send deep and heartfelt condolences to the family of Guido Six, with the loss of both Guido and his son Jef in a tragic accident on October 30, 2015. Guido‘s contributions to the world of clarinet, to music, and to his family in the clarinet world will be remembered for generations to come.

Guido Six was just 18 years old when he passed the examination to perform as a military musician in the Band of the Gendarmerie. It was there that he met his predecessor Roland Cardon, eventually following him as Director of the Ostend Conservatory in Belgium. Guido eventually became professor of clarinet and pedagogical coordinator.

His Claribel Clarinet Choir, which began in 1992, experienced many successes at their performances in international music festivals. Six was also chairman of the Music Association of West Flanders and continued to organize his clarinet internship in Oostduinkerke. The Conservatory of Ostend serves as home for the Belgian Clarinet Academy, an international summer course for pre-professional clarinetists. Several world-renowned clarinetists joined Guido for a fascinating and instructive week in this beautiful Flemish coastal city each summer.

The renowned and elite Claribel Clarinet Choir from Ostend, Belgium performed at the 20th Anniversary Concert at the MidWest Band & Orchestra Clinic with soloists, and Director and Founder Guido Six was awarded Commendation from the International Music Educators Association. As a high-point in his career, Mr. Six was again awarded for his accomplishments by the International Music Educators Association in developing his agenda and achieving his goals in his field. Of special note, Guido Six published a vast repertoire for the clarinet choir and was a masterful teacher and performer. He served as Artistic Director of two ClarinetFests in Belgium, 1993 in Ghent and 1999 in Ostend, and plans were underway for ClarinetFest 2018 to take place in Ostend as well.

Services for Guido Six and Jef Six are scheduled for Saturday, November 7th in Ostend, Belgium.