Clarinet Festival Returns to USU

LOGAN – The sixth annual Utah Clarinet Festival returns to the Caine College of the Arts (CCA) at USU and promises a weekend of clarinet performances, lectures, masterclasses and workshops open to clarinetists of all ages and skill levels. The festival is organized and hosted by clarinet professors at Utah colleges and universities. Registration opens March 3 at noon in the Caine Performance Hall Lobby.
“We’re honored to host the festival at USU again this year,” Nicholas Morrison, clarinet professor and senior associate dean in the CCA, said. “The beautiful campus and thriving arts community are an ideal location for the festival.”
Clarinetist Tad Calcara will perform with the Larry Smith Jazz Kicks Band March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Caine Performance Hall. Calcara, principal clarinet of the Utah Symphony, has performed with the New World Symphony, Texas Festival Orchestra at Round Top, the Cleveland Orchestra and more. While not performing with the Utah Symphony he can be heard playing chamber music in and around Salt Lake City or leading his 16-piece New Deal Swing Band, which specializes in classic jazz and swing music from the 30s and 40s.
“We’re so lucky to have an artist of Tad Calcara’s stature in the state of Utah,” Morrison said. “He’s an amazing talent and I’m so grateful that he would join Larry and his band for this special concert.”
Also performing at the festival is recital clarinetist Wesley Ferreira, who leads an active and diverse career performing worldwide as a soloist, orchestra and chamber musician, and as an engaging adjudicator and clinician. Ferreira has been featured soloist with numerous wind bands and orchestras in North America and Europe and has performed in many countries, including China, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Portugal.
“Wesley Ferreira is one of the finest rising stars in the clarinet world,” Morrison said. “This is an exciting program of music from around the globe, including the premiere performance of a fabulous new piece from Portugal.”
Sponsors of the Utah Clarinet Festival include Conn-Selmer, Inc., D’Addario Woodwinds, The Music Store, Summerhays Music, Lohff & Pfeiffer USA, the USU Music Department and the Caine College of the Arts.
Register for the Utah Clarinet Festival at clarinetfestival.org, call the CCA Box Office at 435-797-8022, or come to the Caine Performance Hall on the USU Campus at noon on March 3.

For more information and tickets for Tad Calcara with the Larry Smith Jazz Jazz Kicks Band or Wesley Ferreira, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.