Clarinet Day at UD
Second annual Delaware Clarinet Day features Maryland's Robert DiLutis
10:05 a.m., March 16, 2015--Forty participants ranging in age from seventh grade to “retired” joined Christopher Nichols and the University of Delaware Clarinet Studio for the second annual Delaware Clarinet Day held Saturday, March 14, at the Roselle Center for the Arts.
The day-long event included performances, festival choir rehearsals, a clinic, a master class and vendor exhibits for all in attendance to explore. Robert DiLutis, associate professor of clarinet at the University of Maryland, College Park, served as the featured guest artist.
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The day opened with a welcome introducing the various vendors and exhibits at the event by Nichols, assistant professor in UD’s Department of Music. This was followed by a recital showcasing the UD Clarinet Ensemble performing Anthony O’Toole’s Technodrone (2014), a work written for premiere by the group at ClarinetFest 2014, and Henry Mancini’s The Pink Panther, arranged by Calvin Custer.
The first clinic of the day by Michael Hammer of Hammer Woodwinds Company in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, discussed a wide variety of considerations. These included topics such as instrument care and maintenance, instrument and mouthpiece selection, and aftermarket barrels. Hammer’s observations on the effects of materials such as key plating and pads on response and sonority were particularly intriguing. This clinic concluded with a question and answer session with attendees.
After a lunch break, DiLutis presented a featured artist recital including works by Eugene Bozza, Louis Cahuzac, Victor Babin and Joseph Horovitz, joined by UD faculty collaborative pianist Julie Nishimura.
Dilutis’ performance demonstrated technical and artistic mastery of the instrument throughout with a pure, resonant sonority and perfect intonation. DiLutis and Ms. Nishimura were joined by Nichols to conclude the program with Felix Mendelssohn’s Concertpiece No. 2 in D minor, which was followed by a standing ovation.
Following the recital, DiLutis presented a master class with UD undergraduate and graduate students Casey Wilkes, Caroline Aylward, Heather Heacock, Sarah Miller and Sarah Greendoner. Over the course of the class, he discussed a wide variety of topics such as orchestral audition preparation, rhythm, practice techniques, articulation and sound production. DiLutis’ instruction was concise and effective. His suggestions resulted significant improvements in each performer’s clarinet performance.
In addition to the clinic, master class and performances, attendees were able to visit exhibits by Hammer Music Company, D’Addario, Allison’s Clarinet Shop, composer Kevin Cope, Music and Arts, Accent Music and RJ Music Group.
Participants received a T-shirt, catered lunch and entry into a drawing for prizes. The winner, Kourtney Bastianelli, received a clarinet pro-pack including a tuner, clarinet stand and silk swab donated by Music and Arts.
Delaware Clarinet Day acknowledges Buffet Group USA, Hammer Music Company, Music and Arts, Accent Music, and the University of Delaware’s Department of Music for their generous support of the event.
The day concluded with a performance by the Delaware Clarinet Day Festival Choir including the following selections: It Isn’t Easy Being a Cuckoo arranged by John Gibson; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Serenade in Bb arranged by John Neufield and Mitchell Lurie; and Gustav Holst’s A Moorside Suite arranged by Matt Johnston.
The third annual Delaware Clarinet Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2016, featuring guest artist clinician Jonathan Holden, assistant professor of clarinet at the Florida State University. For more information, contact Nichols at crnichol@udel.edu.