ClarinetFest 2019® Day 4: Españyid Recital by Meghan Taylor, ClarinetFest® 2019 Writing Team Españyid, a trio using two clarinets and classical guitar, performed on Saturday, July 27th at 4 pm during ClarinetFest®. This ensemble is known for its unique sound which blends Klezmer and Flamenco styles, producing some incredible new music. Members of Españyid include Meredith Gersten and Mike Gersten, clarinets, and Joey Grimaldi, classical guitar. The first piece on the program was titled, “Oy Tate, es “La Feria” showcased this unique blend of musical styles particularly well. Arranged by Mike Gersten, the piece combines a Klezmer folk tune and a solo popular in the classical guitarRead More →

ClarinetFest 2019® Day 4: Dave Bennett Recital by Heather Gering, ClarinetFest® 2019 Writing Team The Dave Bennett Recital on Saturday, July 27, at 10 am showcased the jazz stylings of the Dave Bennett Quartet. The group, hailing from Michigan, consisted of clarinet, bass guitar, piano and drum set. They performed an arrangement of The Beatles Eleanor Rigby, original compositions by Bennett entitled Blood Moon and 13 Fingers, and Jimmy Webb’s Wichita Lineman. Between the tunes, Bennett shared stories of himself and his start as a performing clarinetist when he was just 13 years old. As a teenager, Bennett was dubbed Dave “13 Fingers” Bennett by a local newspaper.Read More →

ClarinetFest 2019® Day 2: Égide Duo Recital by Meghan Taylor, ClarinetFest® 2019 Writing Team As advocates for new repertoire and agents for social change, Égide Duo, had a powerful appearance during ClarinetFest 2019. Égide Duo performed two works by John Steinmetz at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 25th. The first piece, Songs and Dances, was originally composed for oboe and bassoon but Steinmetz transcribed the piece for the duo’s performance. This exciting work highlighted the duo’s vibrant color palette and captivating quality. The second half of the program featured a World Premiere performance of Coal Seams by John Steinmetz. Before the piece, Joshua Gardner described the coalRead More →