16 May
On
In Five Minute Interview, ICA Blog
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Five Minute Interview: ICA President Elect Denise Gainey     What is your current position? I currently serve as President Elect of the Board of the International Clarinet Association. I’m also professor of clarinet and music education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.   Who have been your biggest influences in clarinet? My biggest influences have been my teachers, including Kalmen Opperman, Jim Gillespie, Frank Kowalsky, and Fred Ormand, and before that my public school band and orchestra directors. I have also been greatly influenced by the inspirational artists I have heard in live performance at ClarinetFests around the world. How fortunate we areRead More →

26 April
On
In ClarinetFest 2019, ICA Blog
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ClarinetFest® 2019 Preview: Star of Knoxville Tennessee Riverboat Cruise   As part of the ICA’s upcoming ClarinetFest® 2019, there will be an add-on event on Friday night, following the orchestra concert! Attendees can purchase tickets for a ride on the Star of Knoxville Tennessee Riverboat! The cruise will glide along the historic Tennessee River, offering incredible views of downtown Knoxville at night! The Star of Knoxville is an authentic paddlewheeler that is approved by the United States Coast Guard for 235 passengers. It is air conditioned and has two bars and a band stage, which we will be using! We will have a small jazzRead More →

14 April
On
In Five Minute Interview, ICA Blog
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Five Minute Interview: ICA Treasurer Tod Kerstetter What is your current position? I teach clarinet at Kansas State University, perform with our resident Konza Wind Quintet, and play bass clarinet with the Topeka Symphony.   Who have been your biggest influences in clarinet? I was greatly influenced by Robert Chesebro, the longtime professor of clarinet at Furman University in Greenville, SC. I was also strongly influenced by Richard Waller at the Aspen Festival and by Henry Gulick and James Campbell at Indiana University   How long have you been a member of the ICA? I joined ICA way back in the spring of 1984 whenRead More →

08 April
On
In ICA Blog, Obituaries
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Former Truman State University Professor Richard Weerts Has Passed Away Former Truman State University professor Dr. Richard “Dick” Weerts (1928-2019) passed away on March 31, 2019. Weerts received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois in 1951, a Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1956, his Doctor of Education from Columbia University in 1960, and his Master of Arts from Northeast Missouri State University in 1973. Weerts taught in public schools before becoming a professor of music at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 1961. He served in this position as well as in the role of chair of the departmentRead More →

19 March
On
In ICA Blog, Obituaries
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The ICA is saddened to learn of the passing of German clarinetist Wolfgang Meyer (1954-2019) at 64 years old. Meyer studied with Otto Hermann in Stuttgard and Hans Deinzer in Hannover and had an extensive career as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.  Meyer served as a professor at the University of Music in Karlsruhe from 1989 until just before his passing. He was an advocate for contemporary clarinet works and was credited for several world premieres. He also recorded frequently on EMI, Amati, Beyer Records and harmonia mundi France, both on modern and historical instruments. One of his most widely known chamber ensembles was the TrioRead More →