The new TCU Clarinet Choir received its first invitation to perform at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest 2022. It is the premiere professional organization for clarinet with the largest conference and membership base in the world. Internationally, performers apply to perform and share their music.
“We are very fortunate to have very talented clarinet students at TCU,” said Corey Mackey, assistant professor of clarinet. “After our second rehearsal, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, these students sound fantastic. I think they could compete on a national level for conference acceptance.’ A few months later, I was right! We submitted a recording in October and were accepted in January.”
The TCU ensemble had its first rehearsal in fall 2021. Mackey will travel with 18 clarinetists to the conference in Reno, Nevada in July.
“It is my goal to show the international clarinet community that there are great things happening in the TCU Clarinet Studio,” said Mackey. “These students are very talented and have worked very hard to play music at this level.
By attending the conference, students will hear professional clarinetists from all over the world and have access to masterclasses and performances that are second to none, Mackey said.
“I know they will leave this conference with life long memories and experiences,” he said.