Sigma Alpha Iota

Fall 2023 47 Philanthropies Awar 2 0 2 3 S I G M A A L P H A I O T A how much time Maestro Gilad took to make sure that each performer was put at ease and how he addressed how they were thinking about their music and performance situation. Sometimes the mental aspects of performance seem to be overlooked in classes, but this was a masterful balance of addressing the mental, technical, and expressive aspects of performing and learning. I also had the chance to see a shared recital and interview session with the Principal Clarinetist of the Houston Symphony, Mark Nuccio, and international soloist Maria Du Toit. Not only was the recital portion phenomenal but at the end of each soloist's performance, they would adjourn to a set of comfy armchairs at the side of the stage and have an interview session with the artistic director of the conference, Wesley Ferrera. is event stood out to me as it really added a personal touch and was extremely relatable, getting to listen to each musician talk about their journey through the industry, their upcoming projects, and their lives in general. Even though the concert and master class schedule was extremely busy, since there were several events going on at the same time throughout the five days of the conference, I definitely made time to go and try out a wide variety of new equipment in the vast exhibit halls. is is always extremely important to me, both as a performer and educator, so that I can stay up- to-date on the latest equipment available on the market for myself and so that I can recommend the best items to help my students. ere was also a vast array of sheet music and books to look through and purchase. Being able to peruse new music gives me the opportunity to freshen up and expand my music library for my private lesson students as well as my own upcoming performances. Some other highlights include trying out clarinets at the Buffet-Crampon booth, including their new clarinet made from Mopane wood. ey also had their new digital clarinet mute, the ClariMate available to try. I also enjoyed stopping by Vandoren's booth to try more of their mouthpieces, ligatures, and their brand-new VK1 synthetic reed. Attending the ClarinetFest conference was an amazing professional development experience for me. e opportunity to attend world class performances and presentations gave me many new ideas and inspiration for other upcoming projects. e opportunity to perform a solo recital for the clarinet community is a huge boost for my career, and I also had a wonderful time meeting new friends and reconnecting with others that I had not seen in a while. I would like to thank Sigma Alpha Iota from the bottom of my heart for sponsoring my trip to ClarinetFest and to all my sisters who came and supported my performance by attending! Chastine Hofmeister is the Principal Clarinetist of the Allen Philharmonic and Clarinet Professor at Collin College. She is also Second Clarinetist with both the Longview Symphony Orchestra and the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, as well as Bass Clarinetist with the Irving Symphony and San Angelo Symphony. Chastine is a Buffet-Crampon performing artist and plays exclusively on Buffet Clarinets. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in clarinet performance from the University of North Texas. Her primary teachers have included Greg Raden, Chris Runk, and Rena Feller. SAI Sisters post-recital, from left, SAI Sisters post-recital, from left, Anne Asbury Kleve, Chastine Hofmeister, Anne Asbury Kleve, Chastine Hofmeister, Sarah Todenhoft Demy, and Taylor Stirm. Sarah Todenhoft Demy, and Taylor Stirm.

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