ClarinetFest Day 1

I'm in Lawrence, Kansas this week at the International Clarinet Association's annual conference, ClarinetFest!  It's one of my favorite events of the year, a great chance to try out new equipment at the exhibits, watch presentations, and listen to great concerts and master classes.  After a run and a delicious big breakfast at Ladybird Diner, we drove to campus to pick up our swag bags and registration packets before watching the first recital of the day.

The swag bag that contained our program and other goodies.

Welcome to ClarinetFest!

This year I'm helping out at the H. Karlsson Woodwinds and I hope that you'll stop by and say hello!  She has a great selection of new and used Buffet clarinets, Gao clarinets, reeds, and music jewelry.

The initial set up, merchandise will be set up in the morning.

After set up I attended the host recital featuring Stephanie Zelnick and Robert Walzel.  You can read more about that recital on the clarinet.org website where I'll be guest blogging this week as one of the conference reporters! I also had a chance to attend Pierre Genisson's clarinet recital before grabbing a tasty dinner at Baan Thai Restaurant. The evening concert was unique in its presentation, it was entitled An Unlikely Muse and featured David Shifrin on clarinet and actor Jack Gilpin playing Richard Muhlfeld.  Together they told the story of Brahm's later years after he had announced that he had retired from composing.  After meeting Richard Muhlfeld, Brahms comes back out of retirement to compose the two clarinet sonatas, trio, and quintet.  The listener is treated to excerpts of these compositions as the story is told.

One of the recital halls.

Onward to the next day!