Princeton Symphony Orchestra Announces Clarinet Masterclass With David Krakauer, 1/28

On Saturday, January 28, 2-5 pm, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) continues its masterclass partnership with Westminster Conservatory, the community music school of Westminster College of the Arts of Rider University, with a PSO BRAVO!masterclass featuring clarinet virtuoso David Krakauer. The masterclass is open to the general public, and will be held at Hamilton House on the campus of Westminster Choir College. Attendees will observe four clarinet students from area schools as they are coached on polishing repertoire for performance. The students are Veronica Li (Princeton Day School), Alex Liu (The Lawrenceville School), Matthew Yuan (Montgomery High School), and Daniel Luo (Montgomery High School).

David Krakauer occupies the unique position of being one of the world's leading exponents of Eastern European Jewish klezmer music as well as a major voice in classical music. He has redefined the klezmer genre with major appearances at Carnegie Hall and internationally. Mr. Krakauer is in demand worldwide as a guest soloist with the finest ensembles including the Emerson, Orion, and Kronos String Quartets and as a soloist with the Dresden, Seattle, and Detroit symphony orchestras, among many others. David Krakauer is on the faculties of Mannes College of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, NYU, and the Bard College Conservatory of Music.

The student musicians selected by their teachers to participate in the masterclass are:

Veronica Li, 7th grade at Princeton Day School

Performance Piece: W.A. Mozart/Waln - Waltz Fantasy and C.M. von Weber - Concertino
Veronica has been playing the clarinet since 4th grade and is currently part of the band at her school and at the New Jersey Youth Symphony Philharmonia. Veronica has placed in numerous competitions including the NJMTA Young Musicians Competition, NJMTA Spring Recital Audition, MTNA Performance Competition, Westminster Conservatory Concerto Competition and Westminster Conservatory Scholarship Competition.

Alex Liu, 11th grade at The Lawrenceville School

Performance Piece: Igor Stravinsky - Three Pieces

Alex has been playing the clarinet for five years. He is a member of his school's orchestra, as well as principal clarinet in this year's Region Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. He studies at Westminster Conservatory with Kenneth Ellison.

Matthew Yuan, 12th grade at Montgomery High School

Performance Piece: Francis Poulenc - Sonata
Matthew has studied clarinet with Ken Ellison for 4 years at the Westminster Conservatory. He is a member of the Montgomery High School Wind Ensemble and the Young Musicians for Volunteer Action. His favorite subjects are math and physics, but mostly math. He enjoys writing with fountain pens.

Daniel Luo, 12th grade at Montgomery High School
Performance Pieces: Malcom Arnold - Sonatina
Daniel has been playing for seven years and currently plays the clarinet in his school's Wind Ensemble. In the past he has also been selected for the All Region, All State, and All National Bands. While he does not plan to major in music, Daniel Hopes to continue his music career at a currently undetermined college.

The PSO BRAVO! clarinet masterclass with David Krakauer is free and open to the public. Reservations are required via princetonsymphony.org or by phone at (609) 497-0020.

The PSO encourages masterclass participants and attendees to purchase tickets to the Un/Restrained concert, Sunday, January 29, 4 pm at Richardson Auditorium. Wlad Marhulets' Concerto for Klezmer Clarinet and Osvaldo Golijov's K'vakarat, and will be among the works performed by David Krakauer. Tickets are available at princetonsymphony.org.

ABOUT PSO BRAVO! EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra's acclaimed PSO BRAVO! education programs reach more than 10,000 students each year. Meet the Orchestra! establishes PSO musicians in teaching partnerships at more than 30 public, private, and special-needs elementary schools throughout Central New Jersey, and stages full-orchestra performances for elementary school students each spring. At the middle school level, Listen Up! invites students to attend Classical Series concerts and create visual art in response to the music they hear. Advanced high school and college instrumentalists participate in public masterclasses with world-renowned artists. From kindergarten through college, PSO BRAVO! inspires the next generation of musicians and audiences.

ABOUT THE PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a cultural centerpiece of the Princeton community and one of New Jersey's finest music organizations, a position established through performances of beloved masterworks, innovative music by living composers, and an extensive network of educational programs offered to area students free of charge. Led by Music Director Rossen Milanov, the PSO presents orchestral, pops, and chamber music programs of the highest artistic quality, supported by lectures and related events that supplement the concert experience. Through PSO BRAVO!, the orchestra produces wide-reaching and impactful education programs in partnership with local schools and arts organizations that culminate in students attending their first live orchestral performance. With considerable community support and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the PSO is also a multiple-year recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' highest honors. The PSO has been recognized for its commitment to new music with an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and a Copland Fund Award. The only independent, professional orchestra to make its home in Princeton, the PSO performs at historic Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University.

(Credit: PSO)