Category: Offers and Events
Artist Performance Series - SPCO Winds
Welcome to the landing page for our performance series event featuring the principal oboe, clarinet, and bassoon players of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra! On this page, you will find all the information about this upcoming event at MMI.
When: Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2pm
Reception to follow. Come meet the artists with some light refreshments!
Where: Midwest Musical Imports Recital Hall
Program
Coming soon!
Artist Profiles
Cassie Pilgrim, oboe
Cassie Pilgrim is the Principal Oboist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A native of Chamblee, Georgia, she has performed in many other leading American orchestras, including The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. During the summer, she has appeared at many renowned music festivals, including Festival Mozaic, Music from Angel Fire, the Aspen Music Festival and the Colorado College Summer Music Festival. Cassie studied with Richard Woodhams at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she received her Bachelor's of Music. Most recently, she studied with Robert Walters at the Oberlin Conservatory, earning an artist diploma. She began playing the oboe at the age of 10 and previously studied with Elizabeth Koch Tiscione. While at Curtis, she worked with Jonathan Biss to establish the Philadelphia branch of Boston-based charity organization Music for Food. Aside from music, Cassie enjoys writing, hammocking and eating dimsum.
Sang Yoon Kim, clarinet
South Korean clarinetist Sang Yoon Kim is the Principal Clarinet of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Sang Yoon is the top prize winner of the 67th Prague Spring International Music Competition 2015. His career highlights include his appearance as a soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of their Music Director, Sakari Oramo, at the Prague Spring International Music Festival. Moreover, he is a laureate of multiple international competitions, including the International Clarinet Competition in Ghent, first prize at the UNISA International Flute and Clarinet Competition in 2014, and first prize from the famous Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition in 2012.
Kim has served as a guest principal clarinet with many leading orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony with Vladimir Jurowski, Christoph Eschenbach, Franz-Welser Most, Jaap Van Zweden, among others.
Kim made his soloist debut with the Colburn Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in 2013, conducted by Dietrich Paredes. Kim received much critical acclaim from the press. Since then, he has appeared as a soloist with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Opera de Rouen Haute-Normandie, Auburn Symphony Orchestra, and Kwazulu-natal Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared with multiple national orchestras in Korea such as Prime, Won-Ju, Sung-Nam, Mokpo and Gwang-Ju philharmonic Orchestra.
Sang Yoon is sought after as a chamber musician; he has attended the Marlboro Music Festival since 2021 and debuted at the Ravinia Festival with the Calidore String Quartet in 2013. He has performed with renowned artists, including Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst, celebrated French string quartet Quatuor Ebene, and pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Robert Levin.
A passionate teacher, he joined the University of Minnesota as assistant professor of clarinet in 2022. Kim has given masterclasses in multiple US and South Korean universities, including the Peabody Institute of Music, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Minnesota Clarinet Academy, Seoul National University, Korea National University of Arts, and Han Yang University.
A graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris, where he was accepted as the first Korean clarinetist in the school's history. He studied with distinguished professors Michel Arrignon and Pascal Moragues. His study in Paris was preceded by three years with Florent Heau at the Conservatoire a Rayonnement Regional de Rueil-Malmaison. After Paris, he went on to study in Los Angeles at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, gaining an artist diploma under Yehuda Gilad in 2014.
Sang Yoon Kim is a Buffet Crampon, Vandoren, and Silverstein Performing Artist.
Andrew Brady, bassoon
Native Tennessean Andrew Brady joins The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in the 2022.23 season as Principal Bassoon. Brady comes to Minnesota from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, having served there as Principal Bassoon since January 2016. Prior to the ASO, Brady held the same position for two years with the Louisiana Philharmonic.
As a soloist, Brady has performed concertos by Hertel, Rossini, Mozart, Weber and Zwilich with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Symphony, the Los Angeles Doctor’s Symphony and The Colburn Orchestra. He appears regularly as Principal Bassoonist with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and he has performed as guest principal with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as at Carnegie Hall and on European tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Brady’s artistry is in high demand and has taken him to South Africa, Korea, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom as well as many destinations within the contiguous United States for both performances and teaching engagements. In past summers, Brady has been a proud member of the Chineke! Orchestra including a performance at the 2017 BBC Proms. The ensemble is the UK’s first Black and ethnically diverse orchestra and seeks to promote diversity and change within classical music by increasing representation and visibility of musicians of color. Andrew is also thrilled to have participated in the “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” concert with the Re-Collective Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl in June 2022. The concert was broadcast live on CNN and marked the first performance of an all-black orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. The celebration featured such legendary artists as Chaka Khan, The Roots, Michelle Williams and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Enthusiastically involved in music education, Brady has taught as an Artist-in-Residence at Kennesaw State University, and he is sought after for masterclasses and private tutelage. He has also served on the faculties of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Brevard Music Center, Festival Napa Valley and National Youth Orchestra/NYO2 through Carnegie Hall.
Brady graduated with his Bachelor of Music degree from The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in 2013, where he studied with Richard Beene. Other major teachers and influences include Anthony Parnther, Rick Ranti and Suzanne Nelsen.
Clarinet Days 2021: A Virtual Series May 3-7, 2021
Go behind the scenes with MMI as we explore clarinet making with some of the worlds leading clarinet manufacturers.
Join us to learn more from Buffet, Selmer and Royal Global. Join us in our Live Sessions for a chance to win some great prizes!
Stay tuned to www.mmimports.com and our social media pages for more details.
https://www.facebook.com/MidwestMusicalImports
https://www.instagram.com/midwestmusicalimports/
Featuring Minnesota Clarinetists! Artist: Pat O'keefe
We are very excited to feature this months Minnesota Clarinetist Pat O'keefe!
Pat O’Keefe is co-artistic director and woodwind player for the contemporary music ensemble ZEITGEIST, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. An active proponent of contemporary classical music, Pat has performed and recorded with noted new music groups around the country, including SONOR in San Diego, the California E.A.R. Unit, the Cleveland New Music Associates, and Ensemble Sospeso in New York, as well as the San Diego Symphony and the Augusta Symphony in Augusta, Georgia, where he was the principal clarinetist for five seasons.
Beyond his activities in Western classical music, Pat is actively involved in other musical endeavors, as well. He is currently a member of the free improvisation group AntiGravity, and has appeared in concert with such notable improvisers as George Lewis, Anthony Davis, Wadada Leo Smith, J.D. Parran and Fred Frith. He has also studied Turkish music with Turkish Rom clarinetist Selim Sesler, and Brazilian music with master drummer Jorge Alabe. Pat was a percussionist with the Brazilian ensemble Sol e Mar in San Diego, and appears regularly with the groups Brasamba, Batucada do Norte and Music Mundial in the Twin Cities.
Pat holds a B.M. (with Performer's Certificate) from Indiana University, an M.M. (with Academic Honors and Distinction in Performance) from the New England Conservatory, and a D.M.A. from the University of California, San Diego. He is currently the clarinet instructor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He has taught previously at UCSD, Augusta State University and Georgia College.
INTERVIEW WITH PAT O'KEEFE
Learn more about Pat's clarinet beginnings along with his current approach to life during COVID-19 during an interview with clarinet specialists Tori Okwabi and Amelia Smith.
SOLO PERFORMANCES
Here Pat play Prelude movement from the Cello Suite in D Minor by J.S. Bach on Bass Clarinet
Hear Pat play Let Me Die Before I Wake by Italian composer Salvatore Sciarrino on Bb Clarinet
FUN CLARINET TRIO!!
Hear Pat and clarinet specialists Tori and Amelia play André de Sapato Novo, by André Vitor Correia Arranged by Pat O’Keefe (with Baxaria by Pixinguinha)
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US! STAY TUNED FOR MORE FEATURED ARTISTS WITHIN OUR SERIES.
Featuring Minnesota Clarinetists! Artist: Karrin Meffert-Nelson
We are very excited to feature this months Minnesota Clarinetist Karrin Meffert-Nelson!
Karrin Meffert-Nelson, DMA, teaches clarinet, conducts the Gustavus Chamber Winds, and teaches courses in Music Education and Music History.
Dr. Meffert-Nelson maintains an active performing career as Principal Clarinetist with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and through freelance work with Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Northrop Ballet Orchestra, and with productions at the State and Orpheum Theaters. She has also performed with the St. Louis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota. As a clinician, Meffert-Nelson frequently appears as an adjudicator for area solo and ensemble contests and works with the woodwind sections of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies.
In addition to her DMA degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Meffert-Nelson holds the MM degree in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University in Evantston, IL and the BM degree in Clarinet Performance and Music Education from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Prior to her appointment at Gustavus Adolphus College, Meffert-Nelson taught clarinet and chamber music at the University of Minnesota.
INTERVIEW WITH KARRIN MEFFERT-NELSON
Learn more about Karrin's clarinet beginnings along with his current approach to life during COVID-19 during an interview with clarinet specialists Tori Okwabi and Amelia Smith.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Here Karrin play Béla Kovács: Hommage à Béla Bártok
Stay tuned for our next featured Minnesota Artist in December 2020!
Featuring Minnesota Clarinetists! Artist: Sang Yoon Kim
We are very excited to feature this months Minnesota Clarinetist Sang Yoon Kim!
South Korean clarinetist Sang Yoon Kim is the first prize winner of several international competitions, including the 67th Prague Spring International Music Competition in 2015, the UNISA International Flute and Clarinet Competition in 2014, and the Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition in 2012. He is also a past laureate of the International Clarinet Competition in Ghent.
Sang Yoon Kim is a sought-after chamber musician, working with leading international artists, among them Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst at the Stavanger International Chamber Music Festival, the celebrated French string quartet Quatuor Ebene, pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Robert Levin. Kim also made his debut at the Ravinia Festival with the Calidore String Quartet in 2013.
As a passionate orchestra player, he has played as the guest principal clarinet of The Cleveland Orchestra and the London Philharmonic, with Vladimir Jurowski, Christoph Eschenbach, Franz-Welser Most and Jaap Van Zweden. He made his debut at the Prague Spring International Festival in 2016 as a soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of their Music Director, Sakari Oramo.
A graduate of the Conservatoire de Paris, where he was accepted as the first Korean clarinetist in the school's history, he studied with distinguished professors Michel Arrignon and Pascal Moragues. After Paris he went on to study in Los Angeles at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, gaining an artist diploma under Yehuda Gilad in 2014. He served as Young Artist in Residence with Classical Minnesota Public Radio in 2013.
Sang Yoon Kim is a Buffet Crampon and Silverstein ligature artist.
INTERVIEW WITH SANG YOON KIM
Learn more about Sang Yoon's clarinet beginnings along with his current approach to life during COVID-19 during an interview with clarinet specialists Tori Okwabi and Amelia Smith.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Here Sang Yoon play Béla Kovács: Hommage à Z. Kodály
CONTEST: Duet Play-Along
Want to challenge your playing and win gift certificates or prizes?
Kegelduett No. 2 for 2 Bb Clarinets by Wolfgang Mozart
Play 2nd part and all repeats
Quarter note = 146
Contest Rules/Tips:
1. Contestants must post their video to the comment section of MMI's Facebook post for the featured artist or simply on MMI's Instagram page #midwestmusicalimports
2. Download the music, use headphones to listen to the 1st clarinet part as you record yours (and to help minimize background noise).
3. Record in good lighting and with your device in vertical view. This allows us to easily put the duet together and repost for you.
4. If possible, stay at least a foot away from the recording device to prevent overpowering the audio input.
5. Deadline is October 31, 2020 - good luck and have fun!
Stay tuned for our next featured Minnesota Artist in November 2020!
Yamaha Step Up Rebate 2020
Featuring Minnesota Clarinetists! Artist: Gabriel Campos-Zamora
We are very excited to feature this months Minnesota Clarinetist Gabriel Campos-Zamora!
Gabriel Campos Zamora, a native of San José, Costa Rica was appointed principal clarinet of the Minnesota Orchestra in June 2016. Campos was most recently the associate principal clarinet of the Kansas City Symphony and has appeared as guest principal clarinet with the Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle and Houston Symphonies in addition to serving as the Virginia Symphony's principal clarinet.
Campos has been a participant at the Marlboro Music Festival and frequently performed in the Kansas City Symphony "Happy Hour" chamber music concerts. He was a fellow of Ensemble ACJW, a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. A laureate of several competitions, he received first prize at the 2008 Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition, in addition to winning concerto competitions at the 2009 Aspen Music Festival, 2010 Music Academy of the West, and 2011 National Repertory Orchestra.
Campos began his musical training at the Instituto Nacional de Musica as a student of Jose Manuel "cheche" Ugalde. He then came to the United States to study at the Interlochen Arts Academy with Nathan Williams and later received his bachelor's degree in music from the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles, where he studied with renowned professor Yehuda Gilad. He has been a participant of the Aspen, Music Academy of the West, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto and the Tanglewood Music Center festivals.
INTERVIEW WITH GABRIEL CAMPOS-ZAMORA
Learn more about Gabi's clarinet beginnings along with his current approach to life during COVID-19 during an interview with clarinet specialists Tori Okwabi and Amelia Smith.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Here Gabi play Dos melodias para Clarinete Solo, No. 2 by Vinicio Meza.
CONTEST: Duet Play-Along
Want to challenge your playing and win gift certificates or prizes?
Theme from Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 2nd Movement - 8notes.com
Play 2nd part
Quarter note = 146
Contest Rules/Tips:
1. Contestants must post their video to the comment section of MMI's Facebook post for the featured artist or simply on MMI's Instagram page #midwestmusicalimports
2. Download the music, use headphones to listen to the 1st clarinet part as you record yours (and to help minimize background noise).
3. Record in good lighting and with your device in vertical view. This allows us to easily put the duet together and repost for you.
4. If possible, stay at least a foot away from the recording device to prevent overpowering the audio input.
5. Deadline is September 30, 2020 - good luck and have fun!
Stay tuned for our next featured Minnesota Artist in October 2020!
Featuring Minnesota Clarinetists! Artist: Jennifer Gerth
We are very excited to feature this months Minnesota Clarinetist Jennifer Gerth!
Jennifer is in her 21st season as principal clarinet of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. A substitute with the Minnesota Orchestra since 1995, she has performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera, VocalEssence, and in orchestras for touring Broadway shows, and ballet companies. Jennifer has a BA degree from St. Olaf College in music and mathematics, an MM degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and was a DMA candidate at the University of Minnesota (1992-1995), studying with Burt Hara. During her DMA she was a Concerto Competition winner, performing the Debussy Rhapsody with the University of Minnesota Orchestra. In 1999 she was a founding member of the Prospect Park Players, a chamber music group that was active in the Twin Cities for seven years. Jennifer continues her love for chamber music playing at the Festival of the Lakes chamber music festival in Alexandria, MN. With 27 years of collegiate teaching experience, Jennifer has taught at St. Olaf College, St. Cloud State University and College of St. Benedict. She currently teaches at the University of Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas and maintains a private studio.
INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER GERTH
Learn more about Jen and her approach to teaching and life during COVID-19 during an interview with clarinet specialists Tori Okwabi and Amelia Smith.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Here Jen play Mvt. 1 of Miklós Rózsa's Sonatina for Solo Clarinet here.
CONTEST: Duet Play-Along
Want to challenge your playing and win gift certificates or prizes?
Selected Duets, Vol. 2 by Rubank/H. Voxman
Duet No. 3 - Ludwig Beethoven
Play 2nd part, starting on page 65, ms. 2 (a tempo)
Quarter note = 126
Contest Rules/Tips:
1. Contestants must post their video to MMI's Facebook or Instagram page #midwestmusicalimports
2. Download the music, use headphones to listen to Jen's part as you record yours (and to help minimize background noise)
3. Record in good lighting - not too dark!
4. If possible, stay at least a foot away from the recording device to prevent overpowering the audio input.
5. Deadline is August 9, 2020 - good luck and have fun!
Stay tuned for our next featured Minnesota Artist at the end of August 2020!
Buffet $250 Instant Rebate & MMI Discounts
Get up to $500 off your R13 Bb or A clarinet purchase now through December 15, 2020. With Buffet's $250 discount and MMI's spectacular offers you can get up to $500 off! All clarinets are professionally setup at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE to our clients. Learn more about our setup here.
Check out MMI's July newsletter to learn more about summer deals, upcoming virtual events and more!
Thank you Jeff Peterson - Manager of Yamaha atelier - Los Angeles!
F. Arthur Uebel Clarinets
Midwest Musical Imports is very excited to introduce our new partnership with F. Arthur Uebel Clarinets and Moe-Bleichner Distribution!
Ricardo Morales - Principal Clarinet of The Philadelphia Orchestra is now an Uebel artist. Come learn and try for yourself why Morales made the switch to these amazing clarinets!
Event details:
Saturday, October 5, 2019 1:30pm-4:00pm at Midwest Musical Imports
The event will start at 1:30pm with an introduction of the clarinets by an Uebel representative.
The remainder of the event will be an open house with the chance to:
- Meet and greet with Uebel representatives
- Learn more about the history and unique details of their production process
- Trial several Uebel clarinet models
To learn more exclusive details about the clarinets, listen to the Clarineat Podcast with Sean Perrin and CEO Victoria Moe and instrument maker Andreas Moe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TME-bifXgDg
History of Uebel Clarinets: The company was founded in 1936, but within the past 10-15 yrs the clarinets have been reinvented with modern improvements.
Wood Selection: Wood is hand-selected, aged for 5-7 years and another 2+ years after the bore is drilled. Other manufactures now kiln dry their wood, taking it only 5 weeks from tree to completed clarinet. The Uebel clarinets have lesser chance of cracking due to their selection and aging process.
Selection process includes looking for wood density, where the wood comes from and if the drying process is slow enough. Each joint of the clarinet is matched in wood density, weight and grain direction. These factors contribute to an even tone throughout each register.
Durability: The wood of every Uebel clarinet is hand-selected and includes multiple layers of silver plating on the keys which results in a very durable clarinet inside and out.
Clarinet bore: As with most German clarinets the bore is larger than French clarinets. This provides a thicker wall and in turn has a larger, darker sound. The modern Uebel clarinets have a hybrid bore that is smaller than a traditional German bore, but appeals to those most familiar with a French bore system.
Ergonomics: Due to the larger bore, the tone hole placements are also different from French clarinets. The feedback has been that the reach, particularly in the pinky keys, is easier. Those with smaller hands or younger students have an easier time getting around the clarinet; especially on their very popular bass clarinet!