Ep. 127: Stephen Williamson, principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony

Ep. 127: Stephen Williamson, principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony
Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.
In this podcast we talk about Williamson's journey from the Metropolitan Opera to Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. He talks about playing jazz piano, starting the saxophone before switching to clarinet, playing principal clarinet as a sophomore at the Eastman School of Music, having four chances to audition for the Chicago Symphony, family, weightlifting and much more!
Stephen Williamson is the principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, appointed in 2011 by Maestro Riccardo Muti. Mr. Williamson was formerly the principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In addition, he has been a frequent guest principal clarinetist with the Saito Kinen Festival Orchestra in Japan under Seiji Ozawa.
Mr. Williamson is currently on the faculty of DePaul University in Chicago, IL. He has served on the clarinet faculty at Columbia University and the Mannes College of Music in New York City, as well as at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival in Québec. He has recorded for the Sony Classics, Telarc, CRI, BMG, Naxos and Decca labels and can be heard on numerous film soundtracks.
For more information about Stephen Williamson please visit: Principal Clarinet
cso.org/about/...
© Let's Talk Off The Podium, 2020

[@billducker7404]

Stephen it’s such an amazing clarinettist - his tone and technique or just tops! I’ve been encouraged so much and learn so much just listening to him and hearing him talk about music. Thank you so much for your podcast and talking to him - God bless you and yours - Bill - UK

[@billducker7404]

Ps. Had to hear this again. What a wonderful testimony Stephen. According to the Book of Ecclesiastes there are times and seasons. May God bless you , your wife and beautiful children. Bill. Uk