13 December
On
In Obituaries

We are saddened to learn of the passing of bass clarinet legend and ICA Honorary Member Harry Sparnaay on December 12, 2017. Sparnaay became an Honorary Member in 2015. Sparnaay received his education (a performer’s degree in clarinet) at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Ru Otto. He specialized in bass clarinet and won the first prize at the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition, a first for a bass clarinet player. Sparnaay performed as a soloist all over the world and was featured performer with countless orchestras of note. One of his most significant contributions to the clarinet is the catalog of more than 650 works that wereRead More →

05 September
On
In ICA Blog, Obituaries
Tagged , , , ,

Retired NSO Clarinetist Loren Kitt Passes Away Renowned clarinetist Loren Kitt passed away on Monday, September 4, 2017.  A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Loren Kitt had a storied career, performing with some of the most prestigious organizations in the world. Kitt joined the National Symphony Orchestra in 1970 and stayed with them until his retirement in 2016. An active teacher, Kitt also served on the faculties of Oberlin Conservatory, the Peapody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins and at the University of Maryland. We will be preparing a tribute to Loren Kitt for The Clarinet, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some videos withRead More →

Ronald Zecher de Kant
29 July
On
In Obituaries

Submitted by Dr. Janice L. Minor, devoted and loving student of Ron’s, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, 2004   On Tuesday, June 22, 2016 the clarinet world said farewell to the beloved Ronald Zecher de Kant. Ron had a distinguished career as a musician and professor. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 30, 1931, Ron received his Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School in 1953, where he studied with esteemed clarinetist, Daniel Bonade. Following Juilliard, he taught for two years at the U.S. Naval School of Music in Washington, D.C. After a year in Toronto with the National Ballet Orchestra, Ron was principal clarinet withRead More →

William-C.-Dominik
06 December
On
In Obituaries

William Carl Dominik, 90, passed away November 6, 2015.  He was born in Lansing, Michigan, June 12, 1925, the son of Mary and Frank Dominik, immigrants from Moravia, and the youngest of three children.  Joining his father in local polka and dance bands while in junior high school, he played the drums and saxophone before settling in with the clarinet.  While still in high school, he also repaired instruments and taught clarinet lessons. After graduating from high school a semester early in order that he might complete one semester of college before his eighteenth birthday, he was drafted into the Army Airforces during World WarRead More →

six
01 November
On
In Obituaries

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 inRead More →