Clarinet Day

This upcoming Friday, November 16th we will celebrate our first "Clarinet Day" at VCSU with an international guest, master classes for advanced players and a clarinet choir performance.

The event will start off with a clarinet choir rehearsal and will end with an afternoon concert by the clarinet choir and the guest artist clarinetist Mtro. Jose Gomez, from Colombia. During the day, students will be able to attend and participate in individual lessons. The level of repertoire includes pieces that will let everyone participate in the clarinet choir rehearsals and the final concert.

VCSU Clarinet Day Master Schedule

Please contact Dr. Jorge Variego (jorge.variego@vcsu.edu), VCSU Clarinet Instructor for more information at 701-845-7383; 1-800-532-8641, ext. 3-7383. http://www.jorgevariego.com/

We look forward to seeing you!

Jorge

Jose Gomez has developed a distinguished career as a university lecturer and chamber musician. Currently professor of clarinet at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Foundacion Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, University Francisco José de Caldas-ASAB, and at the Unimúsica Foundation, Gomez is also an organizing member of CLARIBOGOTÁ, the International Clarinet Festival in Bogota, Colombia.

Gomez has performed world premieres, including the Capriccio for Clarinet and Orchestra by Argentine composer Jorge Variego (December 2008, with the Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra) and Guaraira Repano for clarinet ensemble by Venezuelan composer Efrain Amaya (April 2006 with the Duquesne University Contemporary Ensemble).

He is a founding member of the trio Athos with which he won the concert series competition organized by the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2011, has belonged to the quintet Cincopation, with which he performed concerts in Pittsburgh, and has performed with the wind quintet Carivato, with which he was twice winner of the Young Concert Series Interpreters of the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango in Bogota. Recently, Gomez participated in the recording of a CD dedicated to works by composers from the University of Bogotá.

Gomez has been a member of the Pittsburgh Opera Theater Orchestra, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphonic Band of Colombia and the Symphonic Band Santa Fe de Bogota. He has performed recitals in Colombia, Spain and the USA.

His professional background includes undergraduate studies at the Conservatory of the University Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá (1995-2000) and the Conservatory of Music of Salamanca, Spain (2002-2004). He received the Artist Diploma and Master of Music degree with honors from Duquesne University in 2009. His principal teachers have been Ron Samules, clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Carmelo Molina, clarinetist of the Orchestre de Castilla y Leon, Spain; Hector Finch, clarinetist of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogota,
Colombia; Emilio Montoya, retired clarinetist of the Valley Symphony Orchestra; and Ruben Ortiz, professor at the Universidad del Cauca.

Jose Gomez has taken numerous courses and master classes from such famed teachers as Lawrence McDonald, clarinet professor of Oberlin Conservatory; Caroline Hartig, clarinet professor at Michigan State University; Theodore Oien, principal clarinet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Richard Stoltzman, International Soloist; Kevin Schempf, clarinet professor at Bowling Green State University; Daniel Silver, clarinet professor at University of Colorado; Jose Luis Estellés, clarinet teacher of Music Center of the Basque Country; Philippe Leloup, jazz clarinet solo international; Henry Bok, professor of clarinet at the Conservatory of Rotterdam; Alan R. Key, professor of clarinet Manhattan School of Music and Julliard School of Music; and Deborah Chodacky, professor of clarinet at the University of Michigan.

Gomez was born in the city of Popayan, where he received exposure to music at an early
age under the guidance of his father. His future projects include the realization of concerts and classes with teachers in Colombia and the United States and recording his first CD with works for clarinet and piano by Latin American composers.