September, 2008

Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy
The second annual Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy was held August 4-9, 2008 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. This year’s Academy featured a collection of artist faculty from major orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. Students attending the Academy had the opportunity for intensive personal study with J. Lawrie Bloom (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Pascual Martinez Forteza (New York Philharmonic), Eugene Mondie (National Symphony Orchestra), Victoria Luperi (Fort Worth Orchestra), and Ronald Van Spaendonck (Brussels and Mons Conservatoires, Belgium.)

Each faculty member conducted a master class during the Academy, as well as a one-on-one lesson with each Academy student. Students were given the opportunity to perform during the master classes for evaluation and coaching and, each class concentrated on a specific topic. Lawrie Bloom focused on orchestral bass clarinet excerpts, Pascual Martinez Forteza discussed air support and tone production, Eugene Mondie related his experiences as an orchestral E-flat clarinetist, Victoria Luperi discussed orchestral excerpts and auditions, and Ronald Van Spaendonck introduced advanced and extended clarinet techniques.

Students were also given the opportunity to study instrument technology with Buffet Crampon’s master woodwind technician François Kloc (director of Sales and Marketing) and woodwind technician Bruce Marking. During the technology sessions, François and Bruce instructed the students on cleaning and disassembling their clarinets, as well as basic maintenance and trouble-shooting.

The Academy hosted a number of recitals during the week, including the opening concert featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra clarinet section (Peter Wright, principal; Marci Gurnow, 2nd and bass; Artie Clifton, 3rd; and Bruce Marking). The students were also given an opportunity to showcase what they learned during the Academy with two nights of student concerts at the conclusion of the Academy. Accompanying the students were pianists Rachel Clifton and Scott Watkins.

The Academy’s artist faculty was featured in an evening concert, accompanied by New York City-based pianist Gema Nieto Forteza. The recital culminated in the world premiere of a piece commissioned for the 2008 Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy. Written for clarinet quintet by Paul Richards, Associate Professor of Composition at the University of Florida, “One Step at a Time” was composed to feature each artist faculty member at one point during the piece.

Next year’s Academy is scheduled for July 27-August 1, 2009 and will be held once again at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.