Day of Winds: Performance, Education & Exploration

What to Expect with NJYS Clarinet Ensemble, Concertino Winds, and CL4tet Conductor & Director Bryan Rudderow

DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED PERFORMANCE COMMITMENT, AFENDI YUSUF WILL NOT BE ATTENDING DAY OF WINDS. MAUREEN HURD, HEAD OF WOODWINDS AT RUTGERS MASON GROSS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, WILL ATTEND IN HIS PLACE.

We are very excited to present the first Day of Winds at the New Jersey Youth Symphony, an event designed for advanced young musicians in grades 9-12 to explore refined elements of their instrument. The event has three distinct components: performance, education, and exploration.

Performance: We are thrilled to welcome MSU’s Montclair Wind Quintet (Janet Arms, flute; Ryan Walsh, oboe; Ben Baron, clarinet; Sasha Enegren, bassoon; and Emma Wahlstrom, French horn) to demonstrate techniques and nuances of the art of chamber music. Our dynamic student performers in the NJYS Fortissimo Flutes and the newly-formed clarinet quartet CL4tet will also perform.

Education: Select students will have the opportunity to perform from this year’s NJMEA All-State Solo Audition pieces with members of the Montclair Wind Quintet on their respective instruments. This is a treat for both the performers and the audience and an opportunity to hear some of the high impact points for the upcoming auditions. Bring your journals and sheet music to take notes about important tips that will undoubtedly benefit your own performance!

Exploration: D’Addario Product Manager and Saxophonist Kristen McKeon will give a presentation about some of the great things happening at D’Addario: reeds, maintenance, and gear. Other vendors on hand include Elefante Music, who will offer minor instrument repairs, and K&S Music. Finally, our Day of Winds concludes with special guest Afendi Yusuf, recently named Principal Clarinet of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. CL4tet, comprised of top clarinetists at NJYS, will perform and interact with Yusuf during the final hour. He will not only speak about the music presented but also touch on concepts and philosophies of making music. Certainly a unique and special way to end our first Day of Winds!

The Day of Winds master class will take place on Friday, November 22 from 4:00-8:00pm at the New Jersey Youth Symphony and features the Montclair Wind Quintet (Janet Arms, flute; Ryan Walsh, oboe; Ben Baron, clarinet; Sasha Enegren, bassoon; and Emma Wahlstrom, French horn) and Afendi Yusuf, Principal Clarinet of the Cleveland Orchestra. Day of Winds will focus on the 2020 High School All-State Solo Audition pieces. Also featuring performances by NJYS Fortissimo Flutes, Clarinet Ensemble, and CL4tet.

Day of Winds is FREE for Wharton Arts students – $5 at the door for all others. Must sign up online by November 8 at https://bit.ly/32xm4qE.

Bryan Rudderow is the conductor of Concertino Winds, Clarinet Ensemble, Director of CL4tet, and Director of the NJYS Summer Winds Camp. He also serves as Adjunct Music Faculty and Wind Ensemble Conductor at Kent Place School in Summit, and Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet and Saxophone at The Farbook School in Short Hills. Rudderow has appeared on three continents as conductor, composer, and clarinetist, focusing his energy on music composed in his lifetime. Read more here.