Stephen Williamson is principal clarinet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, appointed in 2011 by Maestro Riccardo Muti. Williamson formerly was principal clarinet of both the New York Philharmonic (2013-14) and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (2003-11). In addition, he has been a frequent guest principal clarinet with the Saito Kinen Festival Orchestra in Japan under Seiji Ozawa. He has served on the faculty at Columbia University and the Mannes College of Music in New York City, as well as at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival in Québec. He has recorded for the Sony Classics, Telarc, CRI, BMG, Naxos and Decca labels, and can be heard on numerous film soundtracks. He was a featured soloist with the CSO under John Williams, recording his Oscar-nominated score for Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln. An avid soloist and chamber musician, Williamson has performed extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. He has collaborated with such artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Mitsuko Uchida, Jeffrey Kahane, Anne-Marie McDermott, Emanuel Ax and Meliora Winds; the Aspen, Dorian and Sylvan wind quintets; and the Brentano, American, Jasper, Brasilia and Dover string quartets, as well as with his fellow CSO musicians as part of CSO Chamber Players. Williamson made his CSO solo debut with the Mozart Clarinet Concerto in 2016 under guest conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky, subsequently performing the work on the Orchestra’s East and West Coast tours with music director Riccardo Muti during the 2017-18 season. Other concerto performances include Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with the Sapporo Symphony at the Pacific Music Festival (2018), Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the CSO (2016 and 2017), the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan (2011), and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in Carnegie Hall under conductor Fabio Luisi (2012). Williamson received his bachelor’s degree and performer’s certificate from the Eastman School of Music, and his master’s degree from the Juilliard School. As a Fulbright Scholar, he furthered his studies at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. His past teachers include Peter Rieckhoff, Charles Neidich, Kenneth Grant and Michael Webster. Past awards include the Saunderson Award from the Coleman Chamber Music Competition; the 1997 New York Concert Artist Guild Competition Nathan Wedeen Award; and the Grand Prize in the First Annual Buffet Crampon North American Clarinet Competition in 1994. He was also the only American semi-finalist in both the 1993 and 1998 ARD International Music Competition for Clarinet. A longtime Selmer-Paris and Vandoren Artist, Williamson currently plays Selmer Signature clarinets and uses Vandoren traditional reeds with a James Pyne "Williamson" mouthpiece. Williamson is the newly appointed Professor of Clarinet at Northwestern University.

Urban Claesson, principal clarinet of the Gothenburg Symphony. The outstanding Swedish virtuoso, Mr. Claesson has been hailed for his recent performances of the Corigliano Concerto and, while in London, performed the Mozart Quintet with the renowned Amadeus Quartet. He is Professor at Gothenburg College and is much sought after as a soloist and chamber musician. His teachers have been Sten Petterssen in Sweden and Anthony Pay at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies in London. Mr. Claesson performs on a handcrafted Pyne/Clarion BC Model Signatue mouthpiece and Buffet clarinets

Henrik Nordqvist has performed with the Göteborgs Symfoniker in Göthenborg Sweden since 1999 where he holds the position of 2nd clarinet. Henrik also serves as Eb, bass, and principal clarinet when needed. A graduate of the Göteborgs University and the Guildhall School of Music in London, he has studied with Urban Claesson, Dame Thea King, Julian Farell of the English Chamber Orchestra and Michael Whight of the London Royal Philharmonic. He has performed in the masterclasses of Anthony Pay. Henrick is very active in chamber music performance and is a life-long Jazz musician as well. Mr. Nordqvist has played Pyne Signature mouthpieces for over 20 years and currently uses the Pyne-Williamson mouthpiece with a Pyne-Ultra clarinet barrel.

Kenneth John Grant is principal clarinet of the Rochester Philharmonic and artist faculty at the Eastman School of Music. He is an active soloist and chamber musician as well. His teachers have been Stanley Hasty, James Pyne, Franklin Cohen, and Theodore Johnson and he holds the BM and Performer's Certificate form the Eastman School. Mr. Grant has served as principal clarinet of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (1973-87), and Rochester Philharmonic (1987- present). As Soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic and Columbus Symphony he has performed several premieres including the Clarinet Concerto by Sydney Hodkinson (world premiere), and Benjamin Britten's Concerto Movement for Clarinet and Orchestra (United States premiere), both with the Rochester Philharmonic. Chamber music premieres include Verne Reynolds' Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Fantasy Etudes for Clarinet, Percussion, and Piano. He was soloist for the Eastman Wind Ensemble Japan Tour (1994). He has been a soloist in the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium (June 1996), ICA ClarinetFest 1998 at Ohio State University, ICA ClarinetFest in New Orleans (2001), the International Festival at Round Top (2004, 2005), Aria International Summer Academy at Ball State University (2004, 2005) and has been a Faculty member, Eastman Summer Seminars in Hamamatsu, Japan. He also served as a Faculty member at Capital University (1978-87), Ohio Wesleyan University (1986-87) and since 1987, the Eastman School of Music. Ken performs on Bakun clarinets, a Pyne “Williamson” model mouthpiece, Olivieri or Vandoren V12 reeds and a Bay or Peterson-Pyne hand woven ligature.

William Amsel is currently the Principal clarinetist in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Previously he has held the positions of second and Eb clarinet with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, principal clarinet with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and has also performed as guest principal with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony. In addition to his position in Buffalo, he is a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra where he plays during the summer. As a chamber musician, Amsel has performed at the Marlboro Music Festival, Society for Chamber Music in Rochester, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Sarasota Music Festival, and with the Borromeo String Quartet. He spent two summers as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, where he was awarded the Gino B. Cioffi Memorial Prize, and also participated in the Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Aspen Music Festival, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. A native of Austin, Texas, Amsel is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Thomas Martin. He received a master’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he studied with Ricardo Morales. Will has played Pyne Signature mouthpieces since his student days in Texas.

Andrew Brown is one of the few contemporary professional clarinetists who is a truly stunning performer both on the soprano clarinets and the bass clarinet! His abilities serve him well in his position as bass clarinetist and clarinetist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally Mr. Brown maintains a large studio as a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music’s Community Music School. His past performances have included the Toronto Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Oregon Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras. A prolific and much sought after chamber musician, Mr. Brown has performed to critical acclaim in venues such as Carnegie Zankel Hall, the Frick Gallery in New York City, and Mexico’s Cervantes Festival. As a member of the Eastman Broadband Ensemble, he has toured both Europe and Mexico and participated in two recording projects, one of which was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Music degree (Summa Cum Laude) at The Ohio State University and the Master of Music Degree in Literature and Performance from the Eastman School of Music. He spent four summers at the Aspen Music Festival and served as a Fellow working with Joaquin Valdepeñas and Theodore Oien. His principal teachers have been Kenneth Grant, James Pyne, and Robert Lehner. Mr. Brown has played Pyne mouthpieces exclusively on both clarinet and bass clarinet for many years.

Timothy Orpen is the Principal Clarinet of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He is also a founder member and Principal Clarinet of Aurora Orchestra. Prior to joining the Royal Opera Orchestra, Timothy spent 3 years as Principal Clarinet of the Royal Northern Sinfonia. A previous overall winner of the Royal Over-Seas League, he has been described as a ‘blazing talent’ by The Times and as ‘one of the best young British musicians today’ by The Telegraph. Concerto highlights include the Mozart Clarinet Concerto at the Royal Albert Hall with Sir David Willcocks and concerto performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. As a chamber musician Timothy has performed with the Allegri, Australian, Carducci, Chilingirian, Doric, Heath, and Sacconi String Quartets and sopranos Elizabeth Watts, Lucy Crowe and Sally Matthews. Other chamber music performances include recitals and chamber concerts with Pascal Rogé in Hong Kong and performances with Melvyn Tan, Anthony Marwood and Lars Vogt. With the Aurora Orchestra and conductor Nicholas Collon he has performed clarinet concertos by John Adams and Brahms (arranged by Berio) and collaborated with the Klezmer band She’Koyokh. Timothy is also a member of the London Chamber Orchestra and has performed with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and the London Symphony Orchestra, amongst others. Timothy has given recitals at the Wigmore Hall and appeared as a soloist across Europe and in Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. He has also performed across the US with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. He has been featured on BBC Radio 3’s ’In Tune’ programme. Timothy has given many world premieres, including a concerto which was written for him by composer Graham Ross. He recently commissioned new works for clarinet and String Quartet from composers Luke Styles and Aaron Holloway-Nahum with funds from the RVW Trust and Britten-Pears Foundation. Timothy, who spent his early years in Australia, studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Germany with Wolfgang Meyer. Timothy has also taken part in masterclasses with Howard Klug, Robert Spring and Charles Neidich. Mr. Orpen performs on the Pyne Signature M~BE mouthpiece. When not playing the clarinet, Timothy enjoys mountain climbing and has climbed 6000m peaks in the Himalayas and the Bolivian Andes.

Yao Guang Zhai is currently principal clarinet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He was appointed by Maestra Marin Alsop in 2016 and is the fist Chinese-born clarinetist ever to hold such a position in a major North American symphony orchestra. A native of TaiYuan, China, Yao Guang began his musical career at the age of three as a violinist, switching to the clarinet seven years later. In 1999 he entered the China Central Conservatory and then came to the United States in 2003, attending the Idyllwild Arts Academy as a full scholarship student. He continued study at the Curtis Institute of Music and graduated in 2009. In that year he represented the Curtis Institute as solo and chamber music clarinetist, touring the US. His solo performance received the Curtis Institute CD of the Year award. During his study, Yao won the Hellam Competition, Aspen Music Festival Concerto Competition, the Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition, the Spotlight Award and the Pacific Symphony Concerto Competition. His instructors include distinguished clarinetists Yehuda Gilad, Donald Montanaro, Ricardo Morales and Joaquin Valdepeñas. Yao Guang was previously Associate Principal Clarinet of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, appointed by Maestro Peter Oundjian, and served as Principal Clarinet of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra for 2 years under Chinese conductor Maestro Long Yu. While performing in Toronto the Globe and Mail described his performance as “the most beautiful lyrical playing of the evening” and the Toronto Star spoke of Yao as having “played with mesmerizing grace.” Yao Guang served as principal clarinet during the live recording of the Messiah with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and conductor Sir Andrew Davis in the year-end 2015 performance released by Chandos Records. He has also recorded for the Royal Conservatory of Music's exam level commercial CD, which has been sold across North America. In addition to solo appearances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Yao has performed with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (China), Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, the American Academy of Conducting Orchestra (Aspen) and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Yao has actively participated in various music festivals as both soloist and chamber musician; among these are The Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival (invited by violinist Cho-Liang Lin); Music From Angel Fire Festival (invited by violinist Ida Kavafian); Laguna Beach Chamber Music Festival (invited by pianist Christopher O’Riley); Aspen Music Festival; Pacific Music Festival in Japan; Beijing International Clarinet Festival; Toronto Summer Music Festival; and Chongqing International Clarinet Festival in China. Yao Guang Zhai serves as a clarinet faculty member at the Interlochen Summer Music Camp, the Curtis Institute Summer Music Camp, Master-Players Summer Music Festival and National Youth Orchestra of China. Mr. Zhai plays Buffet Tosca clarinets with Pyne Williamson” and M~BE model mouthpieces.

Clarinetist Alexander Bedenko is one of the most prolific talents of his generation and has performed with major conductors of leading orchestras, ensembles and festivals in the United States, Europe and Asia. In 1994, Mr. Bedenko was the first prize winner at the Moscow International Young Artist’s Competition. Following that he won the Interlochen Center for the Arts Concerto Competition (1996) and in 1999 the Grand-Prix at the International Selmer Clarinet Competition in Kiev. Additionally, Alexander held the prestigious named scholarship of The President of Ukraine from the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation from 1997 through 1999. Born in Ukraine into a family of musicians, Alexander Bedenko graduated from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied clarinet with Donald Montanaro and chamber music with Pamela Frank, Peter Wiley and Joseph Silverstein. In January 2014, Mr. Bedenko was invited by Riccardo Muti to perform as principal clarinet on a highly acclaimed European tour with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has also performed as guest principal clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra, both at the Barbican Centre in London and on tour in Germany under the baton of Daniel Harding, with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London) and with the Cleveland Orchestra under the baton of Franz Welser Most. From (2008 - 2018) Alexander Bedenko has served as a co-principal clarinetist with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, directed by Gabor Takacs-Nagy. In addition to his work with major orchestras, Mr. Bedenko's appearances as both a soloist and chamber musician have included concerts at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Steinway Hall in New York City, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, Schubertiade in Austria, and UNESCO in Paris. He has collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Vladimir Spivakov, Christoph Eschenbach, Nikolai Lugansky, Elena Bashkirova, Kirill Gernstein, Daniel Hope, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Frans Helmerson, Nobuko Imai, Eugenia Zukerman, Maxim Rysanov, Gautier Capucon and with the Borodin, Jerusalem and Endellion string quartets. Additional past performances include the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra (soloist), Romanian National Radio Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Ukraine, the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and appearances at the Colmar, Verbier, Spoleto, Sarasota and Schubertiade music festivals. Mr. Bedenko has also been broadcast on television and radio in France, Sweden, Romania, Russia and Ukraine. He has been featured on WQXR Radio in New York, WRTI Radio in Philadelphia, and the “Voice of America” in Washington D.C. In 2007, Alexander appeared together with Richard Stoltzman on a recording of the music of J.S. Bach for the RCA/BMG Japan label. Alexander Bedenko became a Selmer Paris Artist in November 2015 and plays Selmer Signature clarinets. He performs on Pyne Williamson and Bc/Jx model Signature mouthpieces.

Kristen Mather de Andrade is principal clarinet of the renowned West Point Band and has been featured frequently as soloist at prestigious venues including Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Severance Hall, the New York City studio for Musicians@Google. She frequently tours with chamber ensembles and as a soloist to perform and give master classes in colleges across the country. Kristen is a wonderfully talented singer (as well as clarinetist) and brings a refreshing approach to an impressive range of styles that include classical repertory as well as world, and folk music. Her brilliant performances and recordings have thrilled listeners with the sound of her distinctively beautiful voice, amazing clarinet virtuosity and penetrating musical insight. Having married a Brazilian, Mather de Andrade initially formed the band Tom do Brasil in 2012 in order to study Portuguese. Since then her work as the bandleader has led to countless live shows and performances including a residency at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Culture. The popularity of Tom do Brasil has exploded and has a sizable internet following. Mather de Andrade holds the Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Youngstown State University as a student of Robert Fitzer, where she was awarded the Founces M. Luley Music Scholarship, Friends of Music Scholarship, and the Dana School of Music talent scholarship. Upon graduation, she accepted a talent scholarship from DePaul University in Chicago to pursue the Master of Music in clarinet performance with Chicago Symphony principal Larry Combs. After studying at DePaul for one year she won a highly competitive position with the West Point Band. As well as being principal clarinetist and soloist with the West Point band she also serves as the Education Outreach Manager, bringing music of all types to numerous audiences through live performances and clinics. While serving at West Point, Kristen earned a Master of Arts in education at Columbia University in 2016 where she studied with renowned Metropolitan Opera Orchestra clarinetist, James Ognibene. Additionally she received vocal training from Josephine Mongiardo. Kristen has recorded clarinet solos for many television appearances, most notably Rhapsody in Blue and Sing, Sing, Sing for the 2018 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and Here Comes Santa Claus for "A West Point Holiday," which was broadcast on the Fox network for many years. She has given master classes and clinics across the US, and is presently on faculty at Manhattanville College teaching clarinet, saxophone, and Woodwind Rudiments. Kristen Mather de Andrade performs on a Pyne Signature Williamson model mouthpiece and Buffet Tosca clarinets.

Wagner Campos serves in the clarinet faculty at DePaul University. Prior to coming to DePaul, he taught at Merit School of Music, Sherwood Conservatory, Lake Forest Academy and the Colombian and Costa Rican Youth Symphony programs. He has taught master classes in Chicago, Colombia, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. Mr. Campos had also coached the winds for the Chicago Protégé and Classical Symphonies. Recently, he was invited to coach the clarinet section of NYO2, National Youth Symphony 2, at Sunny-Purchase, NY. Mr. Campos is currently a member of Chicago Sinfonietta and Fulcrum Point New Music Project. He has participated in concerts with the Milwaukee, Alabama, Charleston and New World Symphonies. He also performs frequently with the Chicago and Philadelphia Orchestras, with whom he has toured and recorded. He has also toured with the Galician Orchestra in Spain. In 2008, he was invited for one season as principal clarinet for the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. At home in Chicago, he enjoys being part of “The Broadway in Chicago” family of musicians, performing shows in the local theaters. Furthermore, he enjoys playing chamber music with groups such as Fulcrum Point, The Avalon String Quartet and CSO MusicNow, among others. Mr. Campos has worked under a vast number of renowned conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim, Sir George Solti, Marris Jansons, Bernard Haitink, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Herberth Blomstedt, Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas, Zubin Metha, David Zinman, Yannick Nezet Seguin, Pierre Boulez, Giancarlo Guerrero, Jesus Lopez Cobos, Kent Nagano and Edo de Waart, among many others. His recording with pianist Roderick Ferguson, “Romantic Songs for Clarinet and Piano” received critical acclaim from John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune, stating “…liquid phrasing, sensuous tone and seamless line, ‘sings’ beautifully…” “Wagner Campos is one of the bright lights of his generation of clarinet performers,” Larry Combs, former principal clarinet of the Chicago Symphony. A native of Heredia, Costa Rica, Wagner Campos received his musical education at Baylor and DePaul Universities. His main clarinet teachers include Larry Combs, John Yeh, Richard Shanley and Ricardo Morales. He participated in master classes given by the legendary clarinetist Robert Marcellus. In addition, he received further education for two summers at the Kent/Blossom music festivals under the teachings of Cleveland Orchestra musicians Frank Cohen, Ted Johnson, John Mack, David McGill and Joshua Smith. Wagner Campos performs on a Pyne Williamson Signature model mouthpiece.

Don Nathan was the Director of Bands at Worthington Kilbourne High School from 2006 to 2019 and worked at all levels in Worthington Schools for 31 years. Under his direction the Worthington Kilbourne Wind Ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall twice, and at both OMEA and MENC professional development conferences. He instituted an active commissioning program which includes works from John Mackey and Roger Cichy among others. In addition to his duties as Director of Bands, Don maintained a private clarinet studio and worked as the woodwind specialist for the middle and high schools. His clarinet students have gone on to major in music, teach music, and perform. They have attained membership in several honors groups including the Ohio All-State Band and the NAfME All-National Band. In 2008, Don was honored with the Johnstone Woodwind Master Teacher Award as the Ohio Woodwind Teacher of the Year. Professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, the International Clarinet Association, the Ohio Music Education Association, and the National Association for Music Education. Don maintains an active schedule as a clarinetist, formerly holding the principal chair in the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Currently Don is an educational consultant and performing artist for Pyne Clarion and an Ambassador for SeriO Clarinets. He is the founder and director of the Central Ohio Honors Clarinet Choir and the Orchestra Director and frequent soloist at Grace Polaris Church. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music from The Ohio State University where his principal teachers were Donald McGinnis and Craig Kirchhoff. Since retiring from full time teaching in 2020 Don has been busy studying clarinet repair with Bruce Marking, formerly the chief tech at Buffet-Crampon in the USA. He has also been working with renowned clarinet expert Lisa Canning, learning her exacting standards for clarinet set-up and repair. Don and wife of more than 40 years, Julie (also a retired band director and fabulous flutist and flute teacher), have started Nathan Woodwind Services specializing in clarinet and flute instruction and clarinet repair. In their spare time they enjoy being with family including two grandchildren. Don has resumed his passion for playing clarinet and saxophone as a frequent substitute clarinetist in the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra and the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra. Don performs on Serio clarinets with a Pyne Williamson mouthpiece and a Pyne Ultra Pro Series Barrel.

Theodore Oien, principal clarinetist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, is a sought-after chamber musician and a concerto soloist who has performed the concertos of Mozart, Weber, Molter, Debussy, Lutoslawski, Martin, Strauss, Finzi, and Copland, the last with the composer conducting. In the summers of 1994 and 1998 Mr. Oien was a featured recitalist at the International Clarinet Association's "ClarinetFest", a global conference of more than 600 clarinetists. Recent appearances have been as soloist at Meadow Brook with the Detroit Symphony, in Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, in Topeka with the Sunflower Music Festival and in Montevideo with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uruguay. In November 1999, he will be performing in a prestigious concert at Lincoln Center featuring principal players of leading orchestras of fifty nations in honor of the Twentieth Anniversary of Symphonicum Europae. A former student of Richard Waller and Robert Marcellus, Mr. Oien holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. He has recently presented master classes in Michigan, Louisiana and Ontario, Canada, and is a long-standing faculty member of Wayne State University and the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Oien performs on Buffet R13 clarinets, a Pyne ~M mouthpiece and handmade reeds.

Charles West is an orchestral, chamber and solo clarinetist, performing recitals or concertos throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia. He appears regularly in international venues as clarinetist and conductor, and he has recorded repertoire which ranges from the most standard of sonatas to the most avant-garde. He is heard on labels including Klavier, Wilson Audiophile, Centaur, CRI, Crystal, and on a 1993 Grammy Award-winning Telarc CD. West holds the Doctorate and three other university degrees, has been a Fulbright Scholar, and he has been President of the International Clarinet Association. His career has included nearly thirty years as Principal Clarinetist in six different professional orchestras and opera companies, and he has held teaching positions in three North American universities, with guest professorships in South America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the People's Republic of China and Australia. West has been Conductor of Orchestras and opera conductor at Virginia Commonwealth University, and has served as conductor or adjudicator of bands and orchestras throughout the U.S. During his seven-year tenure as Conductor of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, the orchestra became recognized regionally for the standard of excellence that it set. He is presently Professor of Music and Coordinator of Winds & Percussion at VCU, conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Charlottesville-Albemarle, and artist-clinician for the Buffet Crampon Corporation. Playing Buffet Tosca, Festival and R-13 clarinets, most of West's recorded and public performances are on the Pyne M and JxBc mouthpieces, with 66 millimeter Pyne 1+ barrels and his own handmade reeds. Dr. West’s book, “The Woodwind Player’s Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Performance,” was published in 2008 by Meredith Music Publications, and in 2011, he received the VCUArts Faculty Award of Excellence.

Robert Spring has been described as “one of this country’s most sensitive and talented clarinetists” (Arizona Republic), “dazzled his audience … flawless technique” (The Clarinet) and “a formidable soloist … played with great emotional life” (Copenhagen, Denmark, Politiken). Spring served as president of the ICA from 1998-2000 and hosted the 1995 ClarinetFest at Arizona State University, where he is presently professor of clarinet. He is also a guest professor at the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. Spring was awarded three degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts, from the University of Michigan, as well as the Citation of Merit Award from the School of Music Alumni Society. His teachers included John Mohler, David Shifrin and Paul Shaller. Spring has performed as a recitalist or soloist with symphony orchestras and wind bands in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America, and has been heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today.” He frequently serves as clinician and adjudicator, teaches on the faculties of several summer music festivals, and has published numerous articles on multiple articulation and other contemporary clarinet techniques. He was awarded Honorary Membership into the ICA in 2021. Spring is a Henri Selmer Paris Artist and performs on the Privilège clarinet along with a Pyne Pk mouthpiece/#4+ barrel combination and handmade reeds.

Russell Dagon maintained a dual career as an orchestral musician and teacher of the clarinet from 1966 through 1999. He accepted a full time appointment as Professor of Clarinet at the Northwestern University School of Music beginning in the fall of 1999. Dagon retired from Northwestern in 2005 and became an Emeritus Professor of Music from that institution. Mr. Dagon had been a part time faculty member at Northwestern since 1981 and prior to that, served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin campuses at Oshkosh, Milwaukee, Waukesha and Madison. Additional faculty positions were held at Carroll College, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, the State University of New York College at Fredonia and at Bemidji State College in Minnesota. Mr. Dagon was extremely proud of the accomplishments of his students who are filling orchestral, university, public school and other music related positions around the world. His summers were spent in coaching the clarinet and wind sections of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada along with various other festivals. Mr. Dagon was the Principal Clarinetist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra from 1969 through the 1998-99 season. He was a soloist with that organization on numerous occasions and has been heard on the orchestras syndicated radio broadcasts throughout North America, Great Britain and on The Voice of America. In addition, he has been the Principal Clarinetist on all of the Milwaukee Symphony recordings for the Koss Classics, Nonesuch and Telarc labels during his tenure with the orchestra. Prior to his appointment with Milwaukee Mr. Dagon was, from 1966-69, the Second and E-flat Clarinetist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Russell Dagon received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Northwestern University in 1961 and the Master of Music from that same institution in 1962. He did additional graduate work at the Eastman School of Music. His primary clarinet teachers were Stanley Hasty, Cloyde Williams and Jerome Stowell. Dagon was active as a teacher, clinician and chamber music performer and had been an Artist/Clinician representative for Buffet/Crampon Clarinets since 1992. He has had the privilege of presenting solo recitals and/or workshops for the International Clarinet Association Conferences at Atlanta, The Ohio State University, Florida State University and the Oberlin Conservatory. In addition to the above he has presented recitals and master classes at numerous other campuses, festivals and workshops throughout North America. Russell Dagon was a founding member of the Wisconsin Chamber Players, the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra and the Trio Suoni. For many summers, he directed the Chamber Music Festival at Birch Creek Farm in Door County, Wisconsin. Russell Dagon's commitment to chamber music continued through his participation with musicians from around the world, in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada's Chamber Music Series, at Northwestern University as a faculty performer, on Chicago radio station WFMT's live broadcasts, and at many other venues. Mr. Dagon performed on Buffet R13 clarinets, and a Pyne model Ck mouthpiece. Russell's favorite pre-concert dish was Bohemian pork and sauerkraut prepared par excellence by his wife Sandy who just happens to be an excellent clarinetist as well.

Larry Passin, Principal Clarinet of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, began his career as Principal Clarinet of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic at age 22, having just won the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition as a student of both Franklin Cohen and Ted Johnson. In 1996 he joined the Aspen Music Festival as a faculty member and performer serving as Principal Clarinet in the Aspen Chamber Symphony and Festival Orchestra. A frequent soloist, both in Spain and the United States, Larry has met with critical acclaim performing the Clarinet Concertos by Mozart, Weber, Copland and Neilsen. His world premiere of the Concerto by Jesus Rodriguez-Pico is available on compact disc. Mr. Passin performs on Buffet R-13 clarinets, a Pyne model ~M mouthpiece, a Pyne model 4+ barrel and Vandoren reeds. As a musical ambassador for American culture in Spain he traditionally hosts a homemade Thanksgiving feast that is much appreciated by his Spanish amigos.

Howard Klug has been a chamber musician, soloist and clinician throughout the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, Venezuela, China and Israel. A former member of the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., where he soloed on flute, clarinet and saxophone, Mr. Klug has also been principal clarinet of the Fresno Philharmonic, Bear Valley Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He has also been a member of the Columbus (OH) Symphony Orchestra and the Grant Park Symphony. Chamber music affiliations have included the Illinois Trio, the Illinois Woodwind Quintet, the Chicago Ensemble, Trio Indiana and fourte'. Mr. Klug's recent concerto performances have included appearances with the Belgian Radio Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and a tour of Belgium with the Kamerorkest of the Staatsacademie of Vilnius. Some of his recent pedagogical activities, in addition to annual master classes at many of the world's finest music academies, have been as the artistic director of the Belgian Clarinet Academy, a Fulbright scholar in Iceland, a clinician at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic and the creator of the publishing company "Woodwindiana", dedicated to new literature for young clarinetists. Howard Klug is Professor of Clarinet at Indiana University, Bloomington. He performs on Rossi American bore clarinets with a Pyne model Bc Signature mouthpiece and a Pyne Handwoven String Ligature. On Bass Clarinet, a Pyne model P Signature mouthpiece.

Kathleen Mulcahy was appointed as Director of Woodwinds and Assistant Professor of Clarinet at George Mason University in August 2018, after serving as Adjunct Professor of Clarinet since in 2012. From 2014-2016, Dr. Mulcahy served as interim clarinet and bass clarinet with the National Symphony Orchestra, and appeared with the orchestra on their 2016 European Tour throughout Spain, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Poland. She continues to work with the National Symphony as an extra musician, and can also be seen performing frequently with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Dr. Mulcahy has held tenured positions with the Annapolis Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. She is currently principal clarinetist with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician and recitalist, Dr. Mulcahy performs regularly on the Faculty Artist Series at George Mason University and has been a featured soloist with the Mason Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. She has performed on chamber series in venues such as the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art, the German Embassy, and the National Cathedral. In July 2017, she performed the world premiere of Howard Buss’ Divertissements for Clarinet and Percussion at the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest in Orlando, FL. Dr. Mulcahy is also a RYT 200 certified yoga instructor, and presented her workshop “Mindfulness and Yoga for the Practice Room” at the American Single Reed Summit in October 2018. Upcoming appearances include recitals and masterclasses at the Eastman School of Music and Lamar University, and a performance at ClarinetFest in Knoxville, TN. In the summer, Dr. Mulcahy serves as Coordinator of Summer Music Intensives for the Mason Community Arts Academy, and is also the co-director of the Mason Summer Clarinet Academy. She can also be seen with the Wolf Trap Orchestra in the pit for Wolf Trap Opera productions, or on stage at the Filene Center accompanying a wide variety of acts. From 1999-2009, Dr. Mulcahy spent her summers in Chicago as second and Eb clarinet with the Grant Park Orchestra. Previously, Dr. Mulcahy served as a clarinet instructor at the State University of New York at Fredonia. She holds the DMA and BM degrees from The Ohio State University and the MM degree and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Her principal teachers have included James Pyne, Peter Hadcock, and Kenneth Grant. Kathleen Mulcahy is a Buffet Group USA performing artist. Kathleen performs on a Pyne Signature M~BE model mouthpiece, a Pyne “U” barrel, and a Pyne P+ Eb clarinet mouthpiece.

James Campbell's journeys as Canada's most honored and distinguished clarinetist have taken him to the world's major concert halls throughout North and South America, across Britain and Europe, Australia, Japan and China. Campbell has followed his muse to five television specials, more than 30 recordings, a Juno Award (Stolen Gems), a Roy Thomson Hall Award, the 1989 Canada's Artist of the Year and the Order of Canada (1997). He has collaborated with many of the world's great musicians including the late Glenn Gould, performances with Elly Ameling, Janos Starker, Aaron Copland, and has been guest soloist with over fifty orchestras. Of Cambell's discography, many recordings have won international acclaim, including the Weber Clarinet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Mozart and Copland Concertos with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. He has also recently recorded the world premiere of Brahms Sonata Op. 120 No. 1, orchestrated by Luciano Berio, with the London Symphony Orchestra on Cala Records; and the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas for Marquis Records. During the 1998-99 season, Campbell will record the Jenner Trio and the Finzi Concerto with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, for CBC Records. As Artistic Director of Festival of the Sound, Mr. Campbell celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a special program "Music from the Sound" during the months of July and August 1999. He also performed at Festivals in Holland and Japan during the summer of 1999. Since 1989, James Campbell makes Bloomington Indiana his base during the academic year as Professor of Music at the prestigious Music School of Indiana University. He performs on Selmer Recital clarinets with a Pyne Pk Signature mouthpiece.

Jane Ellsworth is Professor of Music at Eastern Washington University, where she teaches music history. She is also bass clarinetist with the Spokane Symphony. She earned both a PhD in musicology (2004) and a DMA in clarinet (1991) from The Ohio State University, and holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in clarinet from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her main teachers have been James Pyne and Franklin Cohen. Ellsworth has performed and lectured throughout the United States and in Europe, South America and Asia, on both modern and historical clarinets. Also active as a writer, Ellsworth is the author of A Dictionary for the Modern Clarinetist (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), and is currently working on two other book projects: an edited collection of essays on the clarinet (forthcoming from the University of Rochester Press), and a history of the clarinet in 18th- and 19th-century America. Her articles can be read in The Clarinet; Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society; Geschichte, Bauweise, und Repertoire der Klarinetteninstrumente; Proceedings of the Clarinet and Woodwind Colloquium 2007: Celebrating the Collection of Sir Nicholas Shackleton; and elsewhere. Ellsworth plays on a large bore clarinet made by Luis Rossi, a Pyne “Williamson” mouthpiece, and Leuthner reeds.

Magie Smith is the Associate Professor of Clarinet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, where she has taught applied clarinet, general education courses, and directed the Community Music Program for eleven years. She is an active soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. She earned Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in clarinet from The Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, Dr. Smith was the recipient of the prestigious University Fellowship, served as the graduate teaching associate for the clarinet studio, and held responsibilities in the music education department. Her principal teachers include James Pyne, Tod Kerstetter, John Carmichael, and Lee Levine. Dr. Smith has been recorded on the Naxos label and has performed with numerous orchestras in the United States. These include the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra, the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and serves as the Second Clarinetist of the Danville Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2011, she was selected to play principal clarinet with the Franco-American Vocal Academy chamber orchestra in a production of Jacques Offenbach’s La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein, in Périgueux, France and surrounding villages throughout Aquitaine. She and colleague Rebecca Johnson have been performing together for 9 years. In 2012, they were chosen to present their research project, “Flute and Clarinet Music for Young Musicians,” at the 2012 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Over the summer of 2014, Dr. Smith traveled to Quito, Ecuador as a guest artist and lecturer for the XXIV Convención Internacional de Flautistas en el Centro del Mundo. She has served as clarinet faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp and at the CICA International Summer Music Festival. Dr. Smith is a dedicated pedagogue and educator who takes personal pride and interest in each of her students. She holds a high standard of excellence in her studio and thrives on helping her students set and reach goals. Her former students have become successful music educators and performers across the country. Magie performs on a Signature M~BE with the new Pyne U "Ultra" barrels.

Jennifer Laubenthal is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Eastern New Mexico University where she teaches applied clarinet and woodwind methods. She has performed recitals and taught masterclasses throughout the United States, including The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Northern Iowa, The University of Oklahoma and Texas Tech University. She performed at the 2016 International Clarinet Association Clarinetfest® in Lawrence, Kansas with the Zia Trio—Kimberly Gelbwasser Lazzeri, soprano and Kayla Paulk, piano and the 2016 National Flute Association Convention in San Diego, California with flutist Kathleen Melago. She has presented her research at regional and international conferences, including the International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education. She is a regular contributor to the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Journal (NACWPI) and was published in the Music Educators Journal in March 2018. Her book chapter, “Music Appreciation as Part of the Humanities: Past, Present and Future”, co-authored with Jonathan Helmick and Kathleen Melago, was published in 2017. At the 2012 Clarinetfest® in Lincoln, Nebraska, she was one of three judges for the International Clarinet Association Research Competition. She is a graduate of the University of Akron and The Ohio State University and her primary teachers are James Pyne and Kristina Belisle-Jones. Dr. Laubenthal plays on a Pyne Bel Canto mouthpiece, Pyne Ultra (Bb) and M (A) barrels, with Buffet R-13 clarinets.